DOHA, Qatar — The desert air was thick with glamour on Saturday night as Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) staged its most star-studded ceremony yet, filling the sand-colored galleries of the National Museum of Qatar with a parade of international celebrities, artists, luxury powerbrokers, and the emerging designers vying for their attention.
Adrien Brody crossed paths with Lindsay Lohan and Emma Roberts near the museum’s rose-tinted galleries. Juliette Binoche and Regina King held court with Lori Harvey while Jeff Koons chatted with architect Rem Koolhaas, the museum’s designer, who was seeing his creation reimagined for the evening. And Gisele Bündchen, who flew in at the invitation of her close friend Sheikha Mayassa, worked the room before taking the stage to present the Fashion Tech Award.
“I came to support my good friend, Sheikha Mayassa,” Bündchen said. “Everything she puts together is excellent. What they are doing is incredible, as is the city. The art museums are excellent, the souk — it’s a very beautiful place to visit.”
Gisele Bündchen
The seventh edition of FTA, hosted by Queen Latifah and Egyptian actor Aiman Kaissouni, drew over 1,200 applicants vying for seven prizes across categories including ready-to-wear, eveningwear, accessories, and fashion tech. Cochairs Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Tania Fares welcomed guests in the presence of Honorary Chair Sheikha Moza bint Nasser.
“We’ve all just experienced the walk across the water — the first time there’s been a look on this site,” remarked Sheikha Mayassa as she welcomed the star-studded crowd, noting that guests were the first to see the museum’s striking architecture reflected in a specially constructed water feature. “It’s a place where past and future meet.”
“As we look back on the seven years of FTA, I feel immense gratitude,” Sheikha Mayassa told the crowd. “Everywhere that I travel, people speak and know about the work of FTA.”
She offered pointed proof of the organization’s growing influence, noting that Rama Duwaji, New York City’s soon-to-be first lady, wore Zeid Hijazi on election night when her husband Zohran Mamdani clinched his historic mayoral victory. Hijazi, a Palestinian-Jordanian designer based in London, won the FTA Prize in 2020.
This year’s winners continued that pipeline of emerging talent: Youssef Drissi of Late for Work took home ready-to-wear, while Ziyad Buainain won eveningwear. Leila Roukni’s accessories label Talel and Farah Radwan’s FYR Jewelry claimed their respective categories. Alaa Alaradi received the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, which is supported by Kering, and sisters Fatema and Dalal Alkhaja won the Fashion Tech Award for their label Touchless. Kartik Kumra of Kartik Research won the Guest Country Award for India, presented in partnership with the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. The award was presented by veteran Indian designer Anamika Khanna and model Neelam Gill. The winners were selected by a high profile jury including Amina Muaddi, Christian Louboutin, Giambattista Valli and Remo Ruffini.
The evening’s most emotional moment came when Miuccia Prada accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award. Sheikha Mayassa delivered a deeply personal tribute to the designer, whom she described as something of a creative mentor.
“The Prada universe was built on culture, not on trends,” Sheikha Mayassa said. “I first met Miuccia through our shared love of film. She was one of our very first supporters, always open to ideas, always open to collaboration.”
The Qatari royal recounted approaching Prada years ago with an unconventional request to design abayas, noting that many Western designers had overlooked the garment despite their significant Middle Eastern clientele. “I proposed the idea to many people, many of whom are here tonight. I will not name them,” she said, drawing knowing laughter. “I failed to convince the majority, but Miuccia said yes. Always up for a challenge, she always said yes.”
Mrs. Prada, characteristically understated, kept her remarks brief, thanking the organization for championing cultural exchange and collaboration.
Zuhair Murad received the Trailblazer Award, cementing his status as the designer who brought Arab couture to global red carpets.
François-Henri Pinault was in attendance for the announcement that Kering will now back the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, offering the winner a bespoke mentorship program tailored to their individual needs. Francesco Carrozzini, son of the late Vogue Italia editor, presented the award, invoking his mother’s legacy as he introduced the winner. “The future of luxury requires us to cultivate creativity, empower talent, and advance innovation,” he said.
Christian Louboutin, Adrien Brody and François-Henri Pinault.
Film, fashion and the beauty world were all well represented at the event. Actresses Pom Klementieff, Golshifteh Farahani and supermodel Natalia Vodianova worked the room alongside Mario Testino, and models Alton Mason, Pritika Swarup and Precious Lee. Cristiano Ronaldo’s partner Georgina Rodríguez drew her own share of attention. Makeup artist Sir John and a team from Anastasia Beverly Hills, the beauty partner for the event, got guests red carpet-ready for the night.
Chaka Khan
Chaka Khan closed out the evening with a performance that had guests on their feet, following an earlier set by Palestinian-Chilean artist Saint Levant.
For FTA’s winners, the night marked validation on an international stage. Saudi designer Ziyad Albuainain, winner of the Evening Wear category, said: “It feels not long ago that I cleared out the couch in my living room to make space for a bigger cutting table to fulfill our first 100-piece order and now winning this prize and being here tonight in front of you all, it feels unreal.”
