The Fashion Trust Arabia has announced its Advisory Board Members for the prestigious FTA Prize 2023.
The Advisory Board members will be responsible for shortlisting the four finalists in each category. The 24 finalists will then present their collections in October in Doha to the Advisory Board, along with the FTA Prize 2023 Judges, the latter of which will be announced at a later stage.
The Advisory Board 2023
Imruh Asha
Asha is a Paris-based Stylist, Creative Consultant, and Fashion Director with a distinct, fine-art influenced point of view. In 2021, Asha was named fashion editor at Dazed magazine.
Adam Baidawi
He is an Iraqi-Australian editor. He is the Deputy Global Editorial Director of GQ. His work has appeared in the New York Times, and internationally through Vanity Fair, Vogue, Esquire, CNN and Rolling Stone.
Carlyne Cerf de Dudzeele
She is a French fashion editor, consultant and photographer. After forging a name for herself at French ELLE as Fashion Editor Countess, Anne-Marie Errembault de Dudzeele moved to New York City in 1985 to become Fashion Director of Special Projects for Vogue and was named Fashion Director when Anna Wintour became Editor-in-Chief. Cerf immediately made her mark on American Vogue with the iconic cover she styled for Wintour’s first issue in November, 1988 mixing an haute couture jacket with her own jeans, a revolutionary look that became the leitmotif of Cerf’s idiosyncratic, widely-copied style.
Delfina Delettrez Fendi
Fendi is a designer and jeweller based in Rome, Italy. She founded her namesake label Delfina Delettrez in 2007, creating fashion jewellery and fine jewellery pieces in partnership with local goldsmiths and artisans. A 4th generation Fendi woman.
Nadia Dhouib
She is the General Manager of Rabanne fashion, reporting to Vincent Thilloy, Chief Brands Officer Rabanne and Jean Paul Gaultier. Nadia Dhouib has strong experience in buying, merchandising and retail. She notably served as Managing Director of Galeries Lafayette Champs-Elysées.
Peter Dundas
He s the Co-Founder and Creative Director of his namesake luxury fashion brand, DUNDAS. In 1992, Peter began his career in fashion as first assistant to Jean Paul Gaultier where he stayed for eight years, before moving to Christian Lacroix in 2000 as head designer of Ready-to Wear. Following his time at Lacroix, Peter went on to serve as Chief Designer, for both Men’s and Women, at Roberto Cavalli from 2002 to 2005. His work at Cavalli garnered unparalleled attention and he was recruited to Emanuel Ungaro as Creative Director, a role he served for two years.
Nina Garcia
The well-known journalist is the editor-in-chief of ELLE, the number one fashion media brand in the world, with 45 international editions and a global audience of 18+ million. Nina is the first Latina to lead a major American fashion title, and since she took the helm in September 2017, the brand’s footprint has never been larger.
Tiffany Godoy
A journalist, editor, consultant, video, and podcast creator, Tiffany Godoy began her career as a fashion editor in Tokyo and, over the past two decades, has written for countless publications, including Vogue, CNN and Highsnobiety. She also authored the book, Style Deficit Disorder: Harajuku Street Fashion – Tokyo, and co-founded the multimedia magazine and creative studio The Reality Show in 2010.
Sofia Guellaty
Born and raised in Tunisia, Sofia Guellaty brings her fashion knowledge and passion for Arab culture together on a daily basis. Her career in fashion spans more than 15 years: she began freelancing for major publications such as Vanity Fair and ELLE and consulting for prestigious brands. In early 2008, she founded one of the first publications geared toward the fashion savvy Arab woman. She then spent four years at the helm of Condé Nast’s first launch in the Middle East: Style.com/Arabia. She is the founder and editor-in-chief of MILLE World, a digital platform and creative agency focused on local and international fashion campaigns.
Beka Gvishiani
She was born and raised in Georgia but is currently based in Paris. Beka studied Business Management and later received a Master’s Degree in Strategic Communications.In September 2021, Beka launched the instagram page “STYLE NOT COM” – with an inspiration and nostalgia for iconic style.The blue colour of the page is inspired by the iconic Parisian concept store Colette, which was closed in 2017.
Caroline Issa
Issa is the Chief Executive and Fashion Director of London-based quarterly title TANK and Editor of the first luxury fashion Virtual Reality magazine Because, the Montreal native is an established fixture on the fashion week circuit, well-known for her ability to generate retail opportunities for luxury brands through innovative use of VR technology, engaging digital content and brand strategy consulting.
Carlijn Jacobs
Jacobs is a photographer and director based in Paris. She is associated with a new generation of artists who have matured amid easy access to unlimited reservoirs of historical and contemporaneous imagery.
Gabriella Karefa-Johnson
She is a New York-based stylist and editor known for her keen eye for up-and-coming designers, as well as her narrative-led approach aimed at diversifying representation in fashion. The stylist, known for her looks pairing disparate colours, textures and silhouettes, worked as associate fashion editor under fashion director Tonne Goodman at Vogue, and fashion director of Garage Magazine in 2017. In 2021, she became the first Black woman to style a cover of Vogue. As Global Contributing Fashion Editor at Large, she has styled 13 international covers of Vogue, featuring Serena Williams, Paloma Elsesser, Kamala Harris and Amanda Gorman.
Ana Khouri
She spent her formative years between the United States and her native Brazil. While Khouri has been working on jewelry projects since 2002, she officially launched her New York based namesake line in 2013. Her work is made exclusively with 18K Fairmined, Fairtrade gold, platinum and ethically and responsibly sourced gemstones. Ana Khouri mainly works on one-of-a-kind high jewelry pieces. While her edition pieces can be found at The Row stores worldwide, Khouri’s high jewelry work can be viewed at her by appointment space in New York City.
Susanna Lau
Susanna Lau, also known as Susie Bubble, is a writer and editor living in London. Lau started her blog ‘Style Bubble’ in 2006, consisting of her widely read thoughts, personal experiences and observations on fashion with a focus on spotlighting young talent. A spearhead of fashion in the digital era, Lau has long since transcended the title of blogger to become a distinctive and respected voice in the industry, Instagramming to her legions of followers, contributing to numerous publications and collaborating with brands such as Miu Miu, Gucci and Prada. Lau was editor of Dazed Digital, the website of Dazed & Confused magazine, from 2008-2010 and now works on freelance editing projects and contributes to titles such as Pop and Perfect magazine.
Saif Mahdhi
French Tunisian talent agent, Saif Mahdhi has been working in the fashion industry for the last 27 years. Developing careers of models, actresses, singers and other visible figures such as Anja Rubik, Caroline de Maigret , Lana Del Rey, Rita Ora, Jane Birkin, ASAP Rocky or Travis Scott to name a few. He worked his way up through various agencies such as Marilyn Agency, Viva Model Management and Next Model Management as the President of their European operations. This completely self-taught workaholic has established his own company SAFE MGMT for the last 4 years representing various talents across a wide spectrum of expertise.
Sara Sozzani Maino
She is the Creative Director of the Sozzani Foundation. She collaborates with many educational institutions and serves on several boards working and creating awareness for a more responsible planet. She is part of the advisory board of the Circular Fashion Summit, in support of the United Nations 2030 Sustainable Development Goals.
Valérie Messika
She is the Founder and Creative Director of Messika. In 2013, Valérie Messika unveiled her first Parisian Flagship store, rue Saint-Honoré, which houses the finest jewelry and Haute Joaillerie jewelry from the House. All of the collections are represented by many celebrities who are loyal to the brand on the red carpets. From Paris to Hollywood, the sets shine on Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kendall Jenner, Kristen Stewart, Charlize Theron, and more…
Tyler Mitchell
He lives and works in Brooklyn, NY. He received a B.F.A. from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. His work has been shown in solo exhibitions at Scotiabank CONTACT Photography Festival in Toronto, Canada, as well as Foam Fotografiemuseum Amsterdam, NL, and The International Center of Photography, New York, NY. He has been included in group exhibitions at Aperture Foundation, New York, NY, and Red Hook Labs, Brooklyn, NY.
Carlos Nazario
He is a Fashion Editor, Stylist and Creative Consultant based in New York City. He is currently the Global Fashion Director of i-D Magazine and contributing editor at American Vogue. Named by the CFDA as one of the stylists shaping the future of fashion and profiled by New York Magazine with the description “the fashion industry can’t seem to get enough of Carlos Nazario,” he is a driving force with a pioneering vision.
Fabio Piras
He founded his eponymous label that showed during London Fashion Week from 1994 until 2000. He has also had a successful career in both creative direction and consultancy for luxury fashion brands in Europe and Asia.
Gaia Repossi
At the age of 21, Gaia Repossi was appointed Creative and Artistic Director of Repossi. The same house her grandfather founded in 1952. In 2010, she launched the BerbeÌre Collection, which would become a groundbreaking hit for the house of Repossi, establishing it as an influential presence within the fashion industry and the high jewelry world. She launched her successful Antifer line in 2014. Built on an opportunity in the market to sell timelessly-designed, quality products at an accessible price point, her company has since grown to worldwide wholesale distribution with two domestic flagship stores and multiple brick and mortar stores opening in 2023.
Michael Ward
He is the Managing Director of Harrods. During his time at Harrods he is overseen programmes of huge growth and expansion within the luxury department store, as well as the transition to new ownership by the Qatar Investment Authority. Michael is a leading voice in the luxury industry and currently holds the position of Chairman of Walpole, the official sector body for UK luxury. He was also appointed to the V&A Corporate Advisory Board in August 2020.
Kelly Wearstler
The founder and principal of Kelly Wearstler, she is an American designer creating multi-faceted, experiential residential, hospitality, commercial and retail environments as well as expansive collections of lifestyle product designs.
Miral Youssef
Youssef has an extensive background within the luxury fashion arena where she has held various business functions, developing native retail concepts and operating in various capacities at Vivienne Westwood, Ralph Lauren in the UK and Chalhoub Group in the MENA region. Miral was responsible for the regional commercial and franchise operations for several luxury and fashion brands.
Carlos Nazario
He is a Fashion Editor, Stylist and Creative Consultant based in New York City. He is currently the Global Fashion Director of i-D Magazine and contributing editor at American Vogue. Named by the CFDA as one of the stylists shaping the future of fashion and profiled by New York Magazine with the description “the fashion industry can’t seem to get enough of Carlos Nazario,” he is a driving force with a pioneering vision.
