Rabat – Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) announced on Monday the 24 finalists for its annual prize. Five Moroccan designers were nominated.  

The Moroccan designers were selected for evening wear, accessories, jewelry, and debut talent prizes. 

Marrakech-based designer Artsi Ifrach represented Morocco in the evening wear. Introduced to fashion at the age of 28 while living in Amsterdam, the fashion designer is known for his fashion house, Maison ARTC. 

Ifrach lived in Tel Aviv, Paris, and Amsterdam before settling down in his parents’ hometown, Marrakech, where he found inspiration for his “one of a kind” collections that have used vintage and handmade materials that “can match past and present together.”

Along with Artsi, Moroccan designer Leila Roukni represented her home country in the accessories category of the regional competition, with her contemporary luxury leather handbags and accessories labeled under the Talel Paris brand. 

With over 10 years of experience in developing leather goods in Paris, Roukni has recently drawn inspiration for her colorful and bold collections from her native country Morocco and countries she has visited across the world. 

In the jewelry category, two out of the four finalists originated from Morocco: Dalila Barkache and Youssra Nichane. 

The two designers are known for reviving traditional Moroccan jewels with a modern touch. While Barkache has revisited traditional ceremonial Berber ornaments by embellishing them with a modern twist, Nichane has transformed jewels from the 17th to 19th centuries into everyday pieces to reconnect Moroccan women with their roots. 

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Like Nichane and Barakache, Mohammed El Marnissi, a finalist in the debut talent category, has attempted to introduce unisex haute couture collections to provide a “true sense of belonging, regardless of social and cultural origin, allowing people to be themselves, as they desire to be,” said Fashion Trust Arabia. 

Launched in 2018, the UAE-based “community has been growing immensely, and it’s incredibly rewarding for us to witness the journey of many Arab designers who have taken their brands to the next level,” said Tania Fares, Co-Founder and Co-Chair of FTA. 

This year, FTA specifically honored Turkey, selecting five Turkish designers w as finalists for the Guest country Award: Bünyamin Aydin, Burç Akyol, Ceylin Türkan Bilge, and Şansım Adali. 

The finalists will showcase their work to the FTA jury in Doha on October 26, 2022.  Six of them will be celebrated at the 2022 Awards Ceremony.