{"id":13788,"date":"2026-07-22T00:40:24","date_gmt":"2026-07-21T22:40:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/the-2026-arab-world-fashion-award\/"},"modified":"2026-07-22T19:54:55","modified_gmt":"2026-07-22T17:54:55","slug":"the-2026-arab-world-fashion-award","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/the-2026-arab-world-fashion-award\/","title":{"rendered":"The 2026 Arab World Fashion Award"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"ProseMirror\" contenteditable=\"true\" translate=\"no\" aria-label=\"\u00c9diteur Canvas\" aria-busy=\"false\" data-disable-editing=\"false\">\n<h2>The Arab World Institute Promotes Contemporary Art in Paris<\/h2>\n<p>From Casablanca to Baghdad, via Paris and Ramallah, we take a closer look at the finalists for the 2026 Arab World Fashion Award, which is shaking up the conventions of contemporary design.<\/p>\n<h2>An institutional springboard for excellence in the heart of Paris<\/h2>\n<p>The Arab World Institute reaffirms its role as a cultural hub and trendsetter by renewing this prestigious award. Far from being a mere social event, this award serves as a true seal of quality, providing independent creators with international visibility and essential business support. <\/p>\n<p>The jury and the selection committee evaluate candidates based on their aesthetic uniqueness, the viability of their business model, and their commitment to eco-friendly practices or the preservation of traditional craftsmanship.<\/p>\n<h2>The Four Pillars of Contemporary Art<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_13763\" style=\"width: 829px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13763\" class=\"wp-image-13763 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-8.jpg\" alt=\"Cam\u00e9lia Barbachi \u2013 CHEZ NOUS Tunisia\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-8.jpg 819w, https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-8-480x600.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 819px, 100vw\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13763\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Cam\u00e9lia Barbachi &#8211; AT HOME &#8211; Tunisia<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The competition is organized around <strong>four strategic categories<\/strong> designed to highlight all aspects of the fashion and arts and crafts industries:<\/p>\n<h3>1. Emerging Talent<\/h3>\n<p>Recognizes an early-stage startup whose vision stands out for its conceptual uniqueness and future potential.<\/p>\n<h3>2. Talent Entrepreneurship Creative<\/h3>\n<p>Recognizes a professional who has successfully built a brand that combines a strong creative identity with a rigorous business acumen.<\/p>\n<h3>3. Talent Creative Excellence and Know-How<\/h3>\n<p>Showcases technical mastery and the modern reinterpretation of artisanal traditions in the high-end segment.<\/p>\n<h3>4. Talent Accessories<\/h3>\n<p>Honors a designer or brand specializing in accessories (jewelry, leather goods, shoes, scarves) that stands out for its bold designs.<\/p>\n<h2>Profiles of the 2026 Finalists<\/h2>\n<div id=\"attachment_13767\" style=\"width: 829px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13767\" class=\"wp-image-13767 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-7.jpg\" alt=\"Salim Azzam, Lebanon\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-7.jpg 819w, https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-7-480x600.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 819px, 100vw\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13767\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Salim Azzam &#8211; Lebanon<\/p><\/div>\n<p>The selection committee has announced a truly impressive list of nominees. Here is a brief overview of the finalists. <\/p>\n<h3>Category 1: Emerging Talent<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_13771\" style=\"width: 829px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13771\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13771\" src=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-8.jpg\" alt=\"Zahra Al-Najjar - Iraq\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-8.jpg 819w, https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-8-480x600.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 819px, 100vw\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13771\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zahra Al-Najjar &#8211; Iraq<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cindy Abi Chala (CIN PARIS) \u2014 Lebanon:<\/strong> A Paris-based slow-fashion brand with a darkly romantic aesthetic, using exclusively surplus fabric from luxury fashion houses.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Zahra Al-Najjar \u2014 Iraq:<\/strong> A graduate of Central Saint Martins who trained at Viktor &#038; Rolf and Louis Vuitton, she explores themes related to the memory of the Iraqi diaspora.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kazna Asker \u2014 Yemen:<\/strong> A pioneer of inclusive fashion at London Fashion Week, she blends contemporary sportswear with traditional Middle Eastern textiles.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Youssef Drissi (LATE FOR WORK) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A contemporary urban label that deconstructs formal wear through oversized, flowing silhouettes.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Assiya Dupont (ASSIYA STUDIO) \u2014 Algeria:<\/strong> An architectural and sculptural approach to clothing, playing with structures and contrasts in materials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ayham Hassan \u2014 Palestine:<\/strong> An award-winning designer whose socially conscious textile work is on display at the Venice Biennale and part of the collection at the V&#038;A Museum.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mira Maktabi \u2014 Lebanon:<\/strong> Based in London, she designs elegant silhouettes in silk and wool, drawing on her family\u2019s expertise in Persian rugs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Moulham Obid \u2014 Syria:<\/strong> A Vienna-based fashion designer who incorporates hand embroidery and crochet created in collaboration with Syrian craftswomen.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ibrahim Shebani (BORN IN EXILE) \u2014 Libya \/ Tunisia:<\/strong> An eco-friendly brand designed in Tunisia, inspired by Libyan history and architectural heritage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Category 2: Creative Entrepreneurship Talent<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_13775\" style=\"width: 829px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13775\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13775\" src=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-8.jpg\" alt=\"Ang\u00e9line Dangelser - LABEL OUEDMaroc\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-8.jpg 819w, https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/3-8-480x600.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 819px, 100vw\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13775\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Ang\u00e9line Dangelser &#8211; LABEL OUED &#8211; Morocco<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cam\u00e9lia Barbachi (CHEZ NOUS) \u2014 Tunisia:<\/strong> Eco-friendly Franco-Tunisian brand named \u201cDesigner for the Planet\u201d at Milan Fashion Week.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Yassine Chenna (YC) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A brand of minimalist premium sneakers made from certified leather and recycled materials.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ang\u00e9line Dangelser (LABEL OUED) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A creative, transdisciplinary third place in Casablanca that brings together fashion, textile engineering, and design.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hind Hilal (HINDHILAL) \u2014 Palestine:<\/strong> An architect by training, she designs a structured clothing line in limited editions from Bethlehem in collaboration with local workshops.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Samar Nasraldin \u2014 Saudi Arabia:<\/strong> A luxury ready-to-wear brand focused on 3D draping, available at Selfridges in London and Harvey Nichols in Riyadh.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Anass Taf (FISCA BRAND) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A brand based in Fez that reinterprets understated Moroccan elegance through functional designs.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kenza Taleb Vandeput (KASBAH KOSMIC) \u2014 Algeria:<\/strong> A Brussels-based brand and pioneer of Algerian-inspired upcycled streetwear.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Lilia Yasmin (ATLAL FROM GALBI) \u2014 Algeria:<\/strong> A cultural and visual project celebrating Arab heritage, selected for the prestigious DAZED 100 in 2025.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Category 3: Creative Excellence and Expertise<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_13779\" style=\"width: 829px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13779\" class=\"wp-image-13779 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-9.jpg\" alt=\"Zineb Ghazali \u2013 ZINEB GHAZALI COUTURE Morocco\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-9.jpg 819w, https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/1-9-480x600.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 819px, 100vw\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13779\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Zineb Ghazali &#8211; ZINEB GHAZALI COUTURE &#8211; Morocco<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Sara Afailal (AFYLA) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A fashion house that celebrates Moroccan heritage through modern haute couture produced in limited editions.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Salim Azzam \u2014 Lebanon:<\/strong> Ethical and poetic designs that showcase traditional hand-embroidery crafted by the women of Mount Lebanon.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Zineb Ghazali (ZINEB GHAZALI COUTURE) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> Haute couture specializing in Moroccan caftans, enhanced by beading and traditional trimmings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Hazem Kais (GOODKILL) \u2014 Lebanon:<\/strong> An experimental studio that sculpts, ages, and naturally dyes textiles to create unique surfaces.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nisreen Omer Suliman Koko (KUKU) \u2014 Sudan:<\/strong> A Paris-based contemporary jewelry designer who reinterprets traditional Sudanese jewelry.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ghitta Laskrouif (GHITTA STUDIO) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A high-end slow-fashion brand based in Casablanca, known for its textures and artistic embroidery.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Layali Maddah (NOTTI) \u2014 Saudi Arabia:<\/strong> Contemporary jewelry from Jeddah that incorporates unconventional materials and sustainable practices.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>Category 4: Accessories Talent<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_13783\" style=\"width: 829px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><img decoding=\"async\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-13783\" class=\"size-full wp-image-13783\" src=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-9.jpg\" alt=\"Fatma Mostafa \u2013 FATMA MOSTAFA JEWELRY, Egypt\" width=\"819\" height=\"1024\" srcset=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-9.jpg 819w, https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/2-9-480x600.jpg 480w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 0px) and (max-width: 480px) 480px, (min-width: 481px) 819px, 100vw\" \/><p id=\"caption-attachment-13783\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Fatma Mostafa \u2013 FATMA MOSTAFA JEWELRY &#8211; Egypt<\/p><\/div>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dalila Barkache (DALILA BARKACHE) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A graduate of the Haute \u00c9cole de Joaillerie de Paris, she creates sculptural jewelry using precious metals and pearls.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Amel Batita \u2014 Algeria \/ Tunisia:<\/strong> An &#8220;Art Cycling&#8221; concept that transfers original paintings onto Italian-made silk scarves.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mohammed el Mehdi Benabdel Moumen (BAMEL) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> Luxury leather goods in Marrakech that interpret zellige architecture through structured leather panels.<\/li>\n<li>\n<li><strong>Karima Bidar (ISLI) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> Amazigh-inspired and graphic jewelry, featured at Printemps Haussmann in Paris.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Kays Masood \u2014 Syria:<\/strong> Contemporary jewelry designed as emotional archives of everyday objects.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fatma Mostafa (FATMA MOSTAFA JEWELRY) \u2014 Egypt:<\/strong> An innovative fusion of miniature thread embroidery and metalwork.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Nadeen Rabie (NAD JEWELRY) \u2014 Palestine:<\/strong> Handcrafted silver rings made in Amman, reviving traditional Arab ornamentation.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Leila Roukni (TALEL) \u2014 Morocco:<\/strong> A brand of bold, geometric accessories and winner of the Fashion Trust Arabia Accessories Award.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Ga\u00eblle Samaha &#038; Rapha\u00ebl Samaha (EL) \u2014 Lebanon:<\/strong> A duo awarded the AMI x IFM Prize for their symbolic jewelry created in both Beirut and Paris.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Marrim Akashi Sani \u2014 Iraq:<\/strong> A Detroit-based jewelry artist who explores faith and identity, with an upcoming exhibition at the Guggenheim Museum.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>The Road to the Championship<\/h2>\n<p>Now that the application period has closed and the finalists have been officially announced at the end of June, the countdown has begun.<\/p>\n<p>The awards ceremony will be held on <strong>Wednesday, September 30, 2026<\/strong>, in the reception halls of the Arab World Institute in Paris, bringing together decision-makers from the luxury, cultural, and trade press sectors.<\/p>\n<h2>A Creative Revolution Underway<\/h2>\n<p>The richness of this selection demonstrates that fashion from the Arab world is making its mark through the power of its narratives, the precision of its craftsmanship, its commitment to the environment, and its ability to foster a dialogue between contemporary art and millennia-old artisanal techniques.<\/p>\n<p>These designers are shaping the future of a globalized luxury that is more humane, more mindful, and infinitely poetic.<\/p>\n<p>Featured photo: Karima Bidar (ISLI) \u2014 Morocco<\/p>\n<hr>\n<p>Read also<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/what-large-scale-logistics-teaches-african-fashion\/\">What Large-Scale Logistics Teaches African Fashion<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/africa-fashion-up-2026-a-celebration-of-african-fashion-in-the-heart-of-paris\/\">Africa Fashion Up 2026: A Celebration of African Fashion in the Heart of Paris<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The Arab World Institute (IMA) is launching the second edition of the Arab World Fashion Award. As the first platform of its kind in France, this ambitious initiative aims to discover, support, and nurture exceptional designers from the Arab world and its diasporas. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":13760,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[147],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-13788","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-mode-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13788","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=13788"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13788\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":13807,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/13788\/revisions\/13807"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/13760"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=13788"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=13788"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/africafashiontour.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=13788"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}