The first-ever Arab Fashion Award (AFA-IMA), newly launched by the l’Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA-the Arab World Institute), is intended to bring Arab fashion to one of the industry’s biggest global stages and designers from across the Arab world and its diasporas are encouraged to apply before the June 15 deadline.
The IMA, which opened in Paris in 1987, seeks to provide a cultural bridge between France, Europe and the Arab world by opening a dialogue between these regions and developing cultural projects alongside the region’s artists, institutions and thinkers.
The groundbreaking new competition celebrates creativity and innovation and is divided into two distinct categories:
- Emerging Talent — for rising designers showing originality and creative promise.
- Innovative Talent — for bold, forward-thinking work using tech, sustainability, or unconventional materials.
Submissions will be reviewed by a selection committee in July. The committee will, then, shortlist ten finalists for each category with the winners, chosen by a jury of renowned fashion and cultural figures, being announced in October during Paris Fashion Week. Projects exhibiting a commitment to eco-responsibility and social engagement will be given preferential consideration by the IMA.
The winners will receive the official AFA-IMA trophy plus a chance to exhibit/organise a fashion show at the IMA in Paris. They will also get the chance to join a short training programme at the Institut Français de la Mode and gain a media profile with partner platforms.
Applicants must be nationals of the Arab League countries or part of its diasporas and will need to submit their application forms by June 15, in PDF format, to the official IMA email: imafashionaward@imarabe.org.