8 June 2026 |
It was an evening celebrating emerging talent.
London has become the latest stage for some exciting emerging talent from the Middle East and North Africa, as Fashion Trust Arabia launched a week-long program dedicated to nurturing the next generation of designers. The non-profit initiative, founded in 2018 to support emerging creatives from the region through grants, mentorship and international exposure, arrived in London with an intimate cocktail reception celebrating the latest winners. Co-hosted by Megha Mittal and FTA co-founder and co-chair Tania Fares, the reception brought together a mix of fashion, culture and creative industry leaders in support of the designers.
Held alongside a packed schedule of mentorship sessions and retail activations, the event welcomed guests including Christopher Kane, David Koma, Dilara Findikoglu, Hamish Bowles, Harris Reed, Emma Weymouth, Nicholas Kirkwood and Roksanda Ilinčić, among others. More than a celebration, the evening marked the beginning of a programme designed to provide emerging designers with the tools they need for a long future in the industry. “Supporting emerging talent goes far beyond visibility — it is about creating real opportunities, fostering mentorship, and helping designers build sustainable businesses,” said Tania Fares. “Bringing our designers to London for this program, alongside our partners and industry community, is an important part of that mission.”
From left: Farah Radwan, Leila Roukni, Youssef Drissi, Ziyad Albuainain
At the heart of the initiative is FTA’s mentorship program, which took place from June 2nd to the 4th. Over the course of three days, winning designers participated in a series of workshops and conversations exploring building a successful fashion business. Topics range from branding and retail strategy to leadership, entrepreneurship, communication and wellbeing. The program included a number of mentors and industry experts, including Emilia Wickstead, Kenya Hunt, Lucien Pagès, Sabrina Elba, Ida Petersson and François Souchet. Designed to offer practical insights rather than theoretical advice, the sessions also provided access to some of fashion’s most influential voices.
The week culminated in a milestone moment for the designers, the launch of selected collections at Harrods, Fashion Trust Arabia’s longstanding retail partner. On June 5th, the iconic department store hosted a breakfast celebrating the arrival of collections from Youssef Drissi’s Late For Work, Ziyad Buainain, Leila Roukni’s Talel and Farah Radwan’s FYR, winners of the ready-to-wear, eveningwear, accessories and jewelry awards respectively. Now in their fourth year hosting FTA designers, Harrods continues to play a vital role in introducing emerging the region’s talent to a global audience. The collections will be available both in-store and online, providing exposure within one of the world’s most prestigious retail stores.
From left: Alice Temperley, Christopher Kane, Conner Ives, Jordan Grant, Deborah Won, Harris Reed, Emilia Wickstead, Martha Ward, Fernando Jorge, Georgia Medley, Nicky Hilton, Elizabeth Rothschild
“Our work with FTA moves beyond a traditional endorsement of these emerging designers, into a true collaboration on their journey,” said Poppy Lomax, Head of Buying, Superbrands, International and Designer at Harrods. “We want to not only provide a stage to showcase these incredibly deserving designers to our global clientele, but to support them through mentorship and advice as they continue to grow and develop.”
As Fashion Trust Arabia continues to expand their international reach, the London program highlights the power of mentorship, community and opportunity in shaping fashion’s future while ensuring that the next generation of designers has the tools, support and platform needed to thrive on a global scale.
