Fashion Trust Arabia has revealed the 21 finalists for its 2026 Awards, bringing together 18 emerging designers from the MENA region and three from Guest Country Mexico. The shortlist spans ready-to-wear, evening wear, accessories, jewellery, debut talent and fashion tech. 

The finalists will present their work to the FTA Jury in Doha on November 28, 2026, when seven winners will be announced at the evening’s awards ceremony, continuing FTA’s mission to champion and elevate the next generation of design talent. 

Know the names

Ready-to-wear

Ahmed Hassan, founder of KML, a conceptual fashion house led by research on the history and evolution of human dress.

Rayana Heemskerk leads her eponymous fashion label, where she turns her Algerian, Kabyle and Dutch heritage into contemporary designs.

Sara Boruc Mannei, founder of THE MANNEI, a modern womenswear label that works closely with artisans and local makers from Jordan and Poland to create refined garments.

Evening wear

Cindy AbiChala, founder of CIN, is a Lebanese-French designer building a slow fashion house with a focus on handcrafted, limited-edition pieces that draw on mysticism, dark romanticism and her dual cultural identity. 

Dana Riad is a Palestinian designer, reimagining power dressing through her nuanced exploration of feminine strength and duality.

Haidar Krayem founded Oscar Kraye in 2022, a couture and ready-to-wear label building distinct designs through material experimentation.

Accessories

Lebanese designer Alia Zaki Ali at L'alingi creates sculptural, statement handbags, turning personal heritage into wearable art.

Maryam Almalki focuses on minimalist, seasonless pieces, pairing masculine structures with feminine details.

Safa Boudokhane founded BALGA DESIGN in 2019, where she reimagines the traditional balgha as contemporary, hand-embroidered footwear crafted by local artisans.

Jewellery

Joelle Kharrat creates sculptural, modular 18k gold jewellery that blends Lebanese craftsmanship with modern European luxury.

Layal AlSultan is the founder of ELURA, a Kuwaiti fine jewellery house, creating sculptural 18k gold and natural-stone pieces made to be worn and collected over time.

Varouj Vartan Kazandjian at Harry V reimagines classic fine jewellery with sculptural gold, colourful gemstones and unexpected details.

Debut Talent

Paris-based Palestinian-Jordanian designer Layla Al Tawaya reimagines historical dress and subcultures through experimental materials and reconstruction.

Beirut-born, Paris-based designer Youssef Zogheib explores masculinity and tenderness through couture tailoring, winning the Prix du Public Mode at Hyères for GRAVESEND.

Zeina Issa blends chainmail, Syrian cross-stitch and historical symbols into maximalist garments that celebrate contemporary Arab Muslim womanhood.

Fashion Tech

Emna Hussein is a Tunisian fashion-tech brand merging 3D printing, craftsmanship and North African heritage into sculptural, sustainable accessories and modular garments.

Shaimaa and Fatma El-Alawy at mesh--mesh creates playful, sculptural bags that blend 3D printing, geometric design and regional heritage.

Sirine Kobeissi, at GIRLE reimagines femininity and ornamentation for a post-natural world, exploring the space between the body and synthetic reality.

Guest Country - Mexico

Camila Banzo founded Banzo in 2021, creating one-of-a-kind garments from repurposed clothing, blending memory, sustainability and experimental design.

Siblings Neithan and Anga Ruiz founded NEITHAN HERBERT, a Mexican luxury house creating romantic, sculptural garments with local artisans in San Miguel de Allende.

Patricio Campillo is the founder of CAMPILLO, reinterpreting Mexican heritage and charro culture through contemporary tailoring and craftsmanship.