The Arab World Institute celebrates excellence and innovation
The Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris was the scene of an historic premiere: the award ceremony for the
Arab World Fashion Prize
. This inaugural event, held on Wednesday, October 8, brought together a passionate jury to honor designers who are redefining the region’s aesthetic and entrepreneurship. From conceptual dresses to disruptive accessories and social engagement, this edition celebrated the excellence, innovation and narrative depth of emerging talent from the Arab world.
A new generation of designers in the spotlight
Faced with the quality and diversity of the entries, the jury made a rigorous selection to honor the figures who will shape tomorrow’s fashion.
The
Emerging Talent
was awarded to
Ahmed Hassan (KML)
co-founder and artistic director of a conceptual fashion house based in Saudi Arabia. Trained in architecture, Ahmed brings a rigorous sense of proportion and ergonomics to KML, which he runs alongside his sister Razan. He has already proved his worth by participating in fashion weeks in Riyadh, Milan and Paris, proving that tradition can be resolutely forward-looking.
The Innovative
Innovative Talent
goes to Algerian
Abdel Djalel Chib
. Based in Paris, this designer of fashion accessories develops a singular aesthetic, a veritable textile laboratory where craftsmanship meets architecture and design. Committed to
slow fashion
With a focus on hand-crafted pieces produced in limited series, the company embodies inclusive, committed and sustainable fashion.
Accessories in the spotlight
The category
Talent Accessories
category rewarded two designers with complementary approaches:
- Lina Kouhaili (Morocco): Franco-Moroccan object designer incubated at the Institut Français de la Mode. Her studio, [lina.kuɛli]invented “objets-à-porter”: chimerical pieces (object-bags, table jewelry) that blur the lines between fashion accessory and functional sculpture. Her approach
Made in Nomade
enhances the value of artisan know-how by taking it on the road.
Oubadah Nouktah (Nouktah)
(Syria): Syrian designer trained at ENSAD and ECAL, he founded
NOUKTAH
an independent leather goods brand. It is distinguished by two lines: one incorporating an innovative patented opening system, and the other transforming junkyard auto parts into unique bags, blending graphic design, visual storytelling and high-end luxury.
Entrepreneurial commitment
The
Jury’s Special Prize
was awarded to
Mouthana Alhaj Ali
(Syria). A graduate of the Institut Français de la Mode and Stéphane Rolland’s atelier, Mouthana uses his creations as a powerful medium to preserve memory and tell the story of women who have lived through the horror of war. A work of such depth and human commitment that it particularly appealed to the jury.
Finally, the
Creative Entrepreneurship
went to
Sophia Kacimi (Zoubida)
. After fifteen years in the luxury goods industry, the Moroccan founder has invented a human and sustainable model for her company. Zoubida. The project is a collective adventure, anchored between Fez and Rabat, that challenges the codes of the industry by offering unisex “art-à-porter” pieces, co-created with artisans and imbued with a contagious joie de vivre.
The first edition of this award marks a significant milestone for the industry, providing an essential platform for visibility and recognition for talent that bridges the gap between cultural heritage, technical excellence and contemporary innovation.
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