29 March 2024

Sudanese Accessories Designer Eilaf Osman Wins FTA 2022 Award

Sudanese-American designer Eilaf Osman, founder of EILAF, a luxury handbag and accessories brand, received the accessory award at the Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) Prize 2022 awards ceremony at the National Museum of Qatar on 26 October 2022 in Qatar.

The international star-studded fashion event included A-list celebrities such as Naomi Campbell, Bella Hadid, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Huda Kattan, Mona Kattan, and more, in addition to the mother of the Amir of Qatar, HH Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser, honourary chair of FTA, and sister HE Sheikha Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani.

EILAF specialises in designing Sudanese leather bags that combines high quality craftsmanship, minimalist silhouettes, and East African techniques to bring thoughtful products to the world.

EILAF’s unique artisanal bags and baskets are made by a community of women coil-stitch weavers from the Rwenzori Mountains in Uganda and assembled by leather craftsmen in a small Andalusian village in Spain. 

In July 2022, Osman was named a finalist in the accessories category of FTA Prize 2022 alongside Duha Bukadi from Tunisia, Karen Gaballa from Egypt and Leila Roukni from Morocco. In addition, Sudanese-British modest fashion designer and founder of Boutique De Nana (BDN), Yousra Elsadig was named a finalist in the ready-to-wear category.

Twenty-four finalists presented their work to the FTA jury in Qatar on 26 October 2022 and six winners were announced during the evening’s FTA 2022 Awards ceremony.

The full list of FTA Prize winners are:

• Ready-to-Wear: Siham and Sarah Albinali (Saudi Arabia)
• Eveningwear: Artsi Ifrah (Morocco)
• Jewelry: Fatma Mostafa (Egypt)
• Accessories: Eilaf Osman (Sudan)
• Franca Sozzani Debut Talent: Claudia Khachan (Lebanon), Kazna Asker (Yemen)
• This year’s FTA has invited Turkey to take part in the event for the Guest Country category. Burç Akyol from Turkey won the Guest Country award.
• Huda Kattan received the Entrepreneur of the Year award.

The prestigious initiative provides each recipient with financial and mentorship support.

Last year, Paris-based Franco-Sudanese designer Abdel El Tayeb won in the category of debut talents in the Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) Prize 2021. 

FTA is an annual non-profit organisation that aims to provide financial support and business support as well as international recognition to the dynamic fashion designers in the MENA region. FTA launched in September 2018 under the patronage of HH Sheikha Moza bint Nasser as honourary chair and co-chairs HE Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al Thani and Tania Fares. FTA is the only initiative of its kind operating in the Arab world, dedicated to finding and nurturing talented designers.

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