The Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) in Paris has announced the winners of its second Arab Fashion Awards. The ceremony took place on Thursday, October 8. Six designers and labels received honors from Lebanon, Palestine, Egypt, and Tunisia. Together, they blend local craftsmanship with historical memory. Moreover, many of them work directly with artisans in their home regions.
A Prize With Growing Reach
The IMA established the award in 2025 to support designers from the Arab world and its diasporas. Designers who are nationals of Arab League countries, or part of their diasporas, can apply. This year, 150 candidates entered, according to FashionNetwork. Of these, 34 nominees passed the first selection stage.
The first edition honored four laureates across three categories. This year, the institute expanded the list to six honors. Egyptian jewelry house Azza Fahmy supported the prize, which was presented in partnership with DLX. Meanwhile, the IMA has been led since February 2026 by French diplomat Anne-Claire Legendre. FashionNetwork described an evening marked by a strong spirit of solidarity.
Emerging Talent: Ayham Hassan, Palestine
Palestinian designer Ayham Hassan won the Emerging Talent award. His practice draws on life in Palestine. According to L’Orient Today, he creates a dialogue between the gestures of local artisans and his own textile research. His work has already travelled far. Africa Fashion Tour notes that his socially conscious textile work was shown at the Venice Biennale and belongs to the V&A’s collection. Last February, he also received an MMM Heritage and Innovation Prize.
Craftsmanship: Salim Azzam, Lebanon
Lebanese designer Salim Azzam won the Creative Excellence and Craftsmanship Talent award. He draws inspiration from the Chouf Mountains. His jackets and shirts carry embroidered Lebanese landscapes and symbols. Notably, he works with embroiderers from the Mount Lebanon region. Accepting the award, he thanked the women who help keep Lebanese embroidery alive. Azzam is also a recipient of the MMM endowment fund’s 2024-2026 program.
Special Jury Prize: Hazem Kais, GOODKILL, Lebanon
The jury awarded its Special Prize to Hazem Kais, founder of the Lebanese label GOODKILL. He launched the label in 2019 and, like Azzam, comes from the Chouf region. His studio sculpts, ages, and naturally dyes textiles to create unique surfaces. As a result, each piece reads as much like an object as a garment. The jury praised both his textile sculpture and his personality.
Creative Entrepreneurship: Ibrahim Shebani, BORN IN EXILE, Libya and Tunisia
Ibrahim Shebani won the Creative Entrepreneurship Talent prize for BORN IN EXILE. The eco-friendly brand is designed in Tunisia. It draws on Libya’s history and architectural heritage. Therefore, the label bridges two countries through one design language. The Libyan-Tunisian designer was recognised for building a business as well as a look.
Accessories: Fatma Mostafa, Egypt
Egyptian designer Fatma Mostafa won the Accessories Prize for her namesake jewelry label. Her work fuses miniature thread embroidery with metalwork. It is a delicate technique that treats embroidery as jewelry. In addition, the win carries extra meaning for readers in Egypt. A leading Egyptian jewelry house supported the prize itself.
Honorable Mention: Hind Hilal, Palestine
The jury also gave an honorable mention to Hind Hilal and her Bethlehem-based studio, HINDHILAL. L’Orient Today describes how her architectural training shapes her clothing. Meanwhile, embroidery becomes jewelry in her hands. Palestinian experience also inspires her textile exploration.
Why It Matters
Several threads run through this year’s list. First, the winners treat craft as a living practice rather than nostalgia. Second, many of them support artisans, especially women, who keep traditional skills alive. Third, the designers come from different places, including Lebanon, Palestine, Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. Yet they share a focus on memory and materials.
The venue matters too. The IMA is a major cultural institution in the French capital. It also hosts fashion shows during Paris Fashion Week. Therefore, the award gives designers from the region a visible platform in a global fashion centre.
What Comes Next
When the prize launched, the IMA said it would partner with the Institut Français de la Mode to train winners in cutting, patternmaking and marketing. Details for this year’s winners have not been published. Nevertheless, the 2026 edition shows a prize that is growing in ambition. For designers across the region and its diasporas, it opens a door worth watching.
