The Institut du Monde Arabe launches a prize that will change everything…
A brand new prize celebrates the creativity of Arab designers. Discover this unique springboard that is shaking up the French fashion scene.
An unprecedented initiative showcases the talents of the Arab world. The Institut du Monde Arabe (IMA) is hitting back with a fashion competition that could well reshuffle the deck.
A first in France for talent that’s too low-profile
While Fashion Weeks in Riyadh, Beirut and Casablanca have been revealing a vibrant Arab fashion scene for some years now, France has remained largely on the sidelines. To fill this gap, the IMA is announcing the creation of the very first Arab World Fashion Prize, open to designers from the 22 countries of the Arab League, or their diasporas.
The competition aims to correct a glaring under-representation, often mingled with clichés. The IMA reminds us that Arab fashion is the bearer of ancient know-how, boundless creativity and an assertive desire to rethink social norms through clothing.
Two categories to highlight singular approaches
The award is based on two complementary themes:
- Emerging talent: for young designers with little exposure;
- Innovative talent: promoting the use of sustainable materials, cutting-edge technologies and ethical practices.
Applications are open until June 15, 2025 on the IMA website. A committee made up of renowned professionals such as Yaffa Assouline, Leyla Neri and Youness Bouchida will select 10 finalists. The winners will then be chosen by a prestigious jury at Paris Fashion Week in October 2025.
A committed award, in tune with a generation in search of meaning
The IMA affirms that priority will be given to eco-responsible approaches and projects with a positive local impact. A way of aligning with current fashion values, where social impact weighs as much as aesthetics.
This desire to promote inclusive, virtuous and multicultural fashion is in line with the major orientations of contemporary luxury houses. At a time when Paris is questioning its own diversity, this prize could well become a hub for a new generation of designers.
A strategic showcase for the IMA… and for Paris
With this competition, the Institut du Monde Arabe aims to become a reference point for Arab designers, finally offering them a stage to match their potential. The choice of Paris, world capital of fashion, lends strong symbolic weight to the initiative.
Through this platform, the institute hopes to change attitudes, break down barriers, and offer Arab talent recognition that has hitherto been too often deferred.
What’s next?
📍Applications are open until June 15, 2025: interested designers have everything to gain by taking the plunge.
🎯 And for those curious about new styles, this competition promises to be an avant-garde detector.
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