On October 8, the Arab World Institute announced the laureates of the inaugural Arab World Fashion Prize at a ceremony in Paris, attended by leading figures from the worlds of fashion, culture and the media.

Created to celebrate the creativity, expertise and diversity of talent from the Arab world, this year’s prize recognised four laureates across three categories: Emerging Talent, Innovative Talent and Accessories Talent. In light of the richness and quality of the works presented, two additional distinctions were also awarded: the Special Jury Prize and the Creative Entrepreneurship Prize.

Saudi designer Ahmed Hassan received the Emerging Talent Prize for his work at the helm of the KML fashion house, where he blends an architectural approach with a keen sense of proportion to create conceptual fashion rooted in tradition yet looking to the future.

Algerian designer Abdel Djalel Chib was awarded the Innovative Talent Prize for his limited-edition, handcrafted accessories at the intersection of architecture, design and craft, underpinned by a committed, sustainable ethos.

The Accessories Talent category this year recognised Lina Kouhaili for her “objets-à-porter”, hybrid creations that straddle accessories and sculpture and celebrate her Franco-Moroccan heritage, and Oubadah Nouktah for his conceptual and functional leather goods under the Nouktah label.

The Special Jury Prize was awarded to Mouthana Alhaj Ali for a creation that places memory and the act of transmission at the heart of a body of work paying tribute to women who have lived through war, transforming pain into a narrative of resilience. The Creative Entrepreneurship Prize recognised Sophia Kacimi and her Zoubida project, which showcases the work of Moroccan artisans between Fez and Rabat through unisex, timeless pieces and participatory textile installations.

The jury for this inaugural edition brought together well-known figures from the worlds of fashion and culture, who praised the quality of the submissions received. The first edition attracted over 125 entries from around 15 countries, and around 30 finalists were selected, illustrating the diversity, excellence and modernity of contemporary Arab creativity. For Jack Lang, President of the Arab World Institute, fashion is a universal language, and this Prize pays tribute to a generation of designers who proudly fly the colours of the Arab world and boldly reinvent its codes.