In October 2024, at the esteemed Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) Awards, Indian heiress, Isha Ambani Piramal (Executive Director at Reliance Retail Ventures Limited), alongside Her Excellency Sheikha Al-Mayassa bint Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and Tania Fares, announced India as the Guest Country for Fashion Trust Arabia 2025. The formation of this partnership in Marrakech indicated the beginning of a cross-cultural creative exchange that will be beneficial for designers from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region and India.
FTA first introduced the Guest Country Award in 2021 to foster an international creative dialogue between countries incubating precious new talent. Countries like Spain (2024), Nigeria (2023), Turkey (2022) and Colombia (2021) were the previous participants of this programme—India carries the torch in 2025. Beyond access to global industry networks, this platform aims at equipping designers with mentorship benefits and financial support.
Three promising FTA-winning designers are about to debut at the prestigious Lakmé Fashion Week in Mumbai, on 29th March, 2025. This year, Lakmé Fashion Week celebrates its 25th anniversary—marking this occasion with the presence of design talent from the MENA region further testifies to the power of global collaboration.
“Welcoming India as Fashion Trust Arabia’s Guest Country for 2025 is an exciting milestone, made possible with the support of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre. India’s deep artistic heritage and commitment to nurturing talent make this partnership truly special. We look forward to celebrating the country’s incredible impact on global fashion and fostering a meaningful creative exchange.” Tania Fares, Co-Chair of Fashion Trust Arabia, on the global significance of this creative partnership.
Jaspreet Chandok, Group Vice President of Reliance Brands, shared a similar vision, when asked about this collaboration. “At Lakmé Fashion Week x FDCI, fostering international collaborations is…
