Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani chaired the Fashion Trust Arabia gala dinner at the El Badii Palace in Marrakech on Thursday evening. This event was organized as part of the Qatar-Morocco 2024 Year of Culture. Upon her arrival at El Badii Palace, Princess Lalla Hasnaa was welcomed by Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani and Tania Fares, Vice President of Fashion Trust Arabia, before reviewing a section of the Auxiliary Forces presenting honors. After viewing a photography exhibition by Tala Hadid, Princess Lalla Hasnaa and Sheikha Al Mayassa chaired the gala dinner, which opened with a video showcasing key moments from Fashion Trust Arabia. In a welcome address, Dutch model of Moroccan origin Imaan Hammam highlighted Fashion Trust Arabia as a significant platform to support and promote designers from the Middle East and North Africa, emphasizing its role in fostering regional talent and creativity. «Marrakech embodies a beautiful blend of cultures and ideas, reflecting the modern vision of His Majesty King Mohammed VI», Hammam remarked, noting how the city's unique charm has inspired countless artists and creators. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani then delivered a speech, underscoring that this was the first time Fashion Trust Arabia was held in Africa. She emphasized that Morocco, with its rich history and vibrant culture, serves as the ideal backdrop for this event. She explained that Fashion Trust Arabia is dedicated to advancing Arab designers' careers and creative industries within the Arab world, building connections between talents and the broader industry. She also announced the launch of the Qatar Fashion Craft Council, which will support Arab creativity by bringing together experts in fashion, crafts, and business. Tania Fares shared that this event gathered an influential community of business leaders, creators, stylists, and designers. She expressed pride in the global recognition Fashion Trust Arabia has achieved, noting the platform's role in showcasing MENA region talent. Following this, Isha Ambani, Director of Reliance Jio Infocomm, announced that India would be the guest of honor for Fashion Trust Arabia in 2025. After the presentation of a video introducing the designers, the awards ceremony for this year's Fashion Trust Arabia took place. Princess Lalla Hasnaa presented the first prize in the «Evening Wear» category to designer Yasmine Mansour. The second prize (Ready-to-Wear) went to designer Nadine Mossalam; the third prize (Accessories) to designer Reem Hamed; the fourth prize (Jewelry) to Sara Naif Al Saoud, Noura Abdulaziz Al Saoud, and Mashael Khaled Al Saoud; the fifth prize (Franca Sozzani Debut Talent) to Sylvia Nazzal; and the sixth prize (Fashion Technology) to Batoul Al Rashdane.
