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Marrakech – Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Qatar’s Sheikha Al Mayassa Bint Hamad Al Thani presided over the gala dinner for “Fashion Trust Arabia” on Thursday evening at the El Badi Palace in Marrakech.
Fashion Trust Arabia is an initiative that aims to promote the careers of Arab creators and the creative industries across the Arab world, as well as to establish connections between these talents and the industry.
A robust welcoming delegation
Upon her arrival at El Badi Palace, Princess Lalla Hasnaa was welcomed by Sheikha Al Mayassa and Tania Fares, Vice President of Fashion Trust Arabia, before reviewing a contingent of the Moroccan auxiliary forces that was on hand to pay tribute.
Afterward, Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Sheikha Al Mayassa were welcomed by various members of the Moroccan government. Among these included Fatim-Zahra Ammor, the Minister of Tourism, Handicrafts, and Social and Solidarity Economy; Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, the Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication; and Abdullah bin Thamer Al Thani, the Qatari Ambassador to Morocco. Farid Chourak, the Wali of the Marrakech-Safi region and Governor of the Marrakech Prefecture, was also present to pay his respects.
Additionally part of the welcoming delegation were other various heads of Morocco’s regional councils, as well as Adel El Fakir, Director General of the National Airports Office and Commissioner General of the Qatar-Morocco Cultural Year, and Saad Saleh Al Hudaifi, the Director of Events and Partnerships and Secretary of the Board of Directors of Creative Hub.
The gala dinner: an evening of accolades
Following their visit to the photography exhibition by Tala Hadid, Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Sheikha Al Mayassa presided over the gala dinner, which commenced with the screening of a video showcasing the key milestones of Fashion Trust Arabia.
In her welcoming remarks, Imaan Hammam, a Dutch model of Moroccan descent, highlighted the importance of Fashion Trust Arabia as a premier event designed to support and promote designers from the Middle East and North Africa.
She emphasized that this initiative has significantly contributed to the development of talent and creativity within the region.
“Marrakech embodies a beautiful fusion of cultures and ideas, reflecting the modern and visionary outlook of His Majesty King Mohammed VI,” she added, emphasizing that this virtuous blend, which characterizes the ochre city, has inspired countless artists and creators.
Afterward, Sheikha Al Mayassa delivered a speech commemorating the first edition of Fashion Trust Arabia in Africa. Morocco, she remarked, with its rich millennia-old history and vibrant culture, is the perfect venue for this celebration.
Sheikha Al Mayassa announced the establishment of the Qatar Fashion Craft Council, which will be tasked with supporting creativity in the Arab world in order to help it reach its full potential, clarifying that this body will include regional and international experts, particularly in the fields of fashion, craftsmanship, and business.
For her part, Tania Fares lauded the important role of this event in fostering the establishment of a community of business leaders, creators, stylists, and designers.
Fares also highlighted the milestones achieved by Fashion Trust Arabia, which has now become a globally recognized platform, expressing pride in showcasing the incredible talent from the MENA region.
Director of Reliance Jio Infocomm, Isha Ambani, took the stage, announcing that India will be the guest country for Fashion Trust Arabia in 2025.
Following the screening of an introductory video featuring the designers, the awards for this edition of Fashion Trust Arabia were presented, with Princess Lalla Hasnaa giving the first prize in the “Evening Wear” category to designer Yasmine Mansour.
The “Ready-to-Wear” prize was awarded to designer Nadine Mossalam, while the “Accessories” prize went to designer Reem Hamed.
The “Jewelry” prize was jointly awarded to Sara Naif Al Saoud, Noura Abdulaziz Al Saoud, and Mashael Khaled Al Saoud, while the “Emerging Talent, Francia Sozzani” was given to Sylvia Nazzal.
Continuing on, the “Fashion Technology” prize was awarded to Batoul Al Rashdane, the “Guest Country” prize was awarded to Spain – represented by Francisco Barroso and Javier Garcia – and the “Entrepreneur of the Year” award went to Charaf Tajer.
The Qatar-Morocco Cultural Year 2024 is a cross-cultural initiative that showcases the depth and strength of the historical ties between the two brotherly nations and their leaders, King Mohammed VI and Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al Thani.
