British Council launches new international fashion award to spot top young creative talent in the UAE

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This new award aims to discover those talented and successful individuals who have both the creative flair and business edge to become future leaders and champions of their local fashion industry. In the UAE, the award is launched in association with Dubai International Fashion Week.

Ten entrepreneurs from around the world will win an all expenses paid trip to the prestigious international London Fashion Week in February 2008, a 'Master-class' with top UK designer and successful businessman Sir Paul Smith, as well as the opportunity to compete for the title of International Young Fashion Entrepreneur 2008.

The overall International Award winner will also receive 7,500 (GBP) to spend on a collaborative project with the British Council on promoting links between the fashion industry in their country and the UK.

The British Council is inviting applications from four countries from the Gulf States - Bahrain, Qatar, UAE and Saudi Arabia - to find one regional winner who will participate in the UK tour. Nationals aged between 25-35 years, who have at least two years' professional experience in the fashion sector, should enter now to compete for the chance to represent the UAE in the regional stage of the competition in November.

'The UAE is fast gaining recognition as the regional fashion hub,' said Yara Moualla, Arts Project Manager at the British Council UAE. 'We have many events centred on fashion, like the Dubai Fashion Week and the Bridal Show. With the UAE being a melting pot of many cultures, this has a tremendous effect on the fashion industry. Local designers are creating a niche in this competitive market and are experimenting and discovering their entrepreneurial skills.

The 'International Fashion Young Entrepreneur' award is perfectly timed to recognise and support young talented entrepreneurs who are contributing positively to the fashion industry's success. Through this award we also hope to inspire and encourage talented young people to dare to start their own venture.'

The judging panel for the UAE award, which will assess entries for their entrepreneurial ability, character and leadership ability, will comprise the British Council Director UAE and leading local fashion industry experts, including Nayla Yared, Project Manager of Dubai International Fashion Week; Mr Nasser Hussain Al Abboudi, General Secretary of Emirates Writers Union (and former head of heritage and
archaeology at the Sharjah Department of Culture and Information) who is an expert on traditional and folklore costumes of the UAE and Oman and has a keen interest in fashion, having published a book on traditional costumes of men in the UAE; Mrs Mouza Al Shoomi, a well established local fashion designer in the UAE who works closely with television channels on costume design; and Neil Bottle, visiting professor at the College of Fine Arts in Sharjah.

Nayla Yared, Project Manager of Dubai International Fashion Week, commented: 'Besides maintaining the philosophy of promoting regional
talent to the rest of the world, DIFW has always made a conscious effort to support entrepreneurs and emerging talents. I am very proud and thoroughly excited to be involved with Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award committee and British Council. I hope to see some of our emerging talent winners here soon.'

Neil Bottle, visiting professor at the College of Fine Arts in Sharjah, said: 'I have been working as a designer for twenty years with
experience in the fashion and textiles industry both in the UK and internationally. I am very excited about the opportunity to be a panel
member of judges at The British Council International Young Fashion Entrepreneur Awards. I am currently a visiting professor at the College of Fine Arts in Sharjah University and it has been a pleasure to get to know the students at the college. I am struck by their energy and willingness to learn. I very much look forward to seeing this kind of spirit in the entries for the competition and I hope to see a variety of exciting ideas which demonstrate a range of skills, new ideas and local cultural interest. This award represents a fantastic opportunity for a young designer to launch their career internationally.'

Paul Sellers, Director UAE of the British Council, added: 'The UAE has a wealth of fashion talent so this is a terrific opportunity for fashion entrepreneurs here to step up and celebrate their success on the international stage. What makes this new British Council International Young Fashion Entrepreneur Award different is that it recognises those creative individuals who have also demonstrated a strong influence on the business of fashion in the UAE.

'We are looking in particular for those talented and successful fashion entrepreneurs who have the character, drive, vision and ability to be
future leaders in their field - those who will be super-fashion entrepreneurs,' he continued. ' Whether they are working in fashion design, research, production, buying, retailing, organising fashion shows, marketing or publishing - the common thread is that the
individuals can show they have developed a successful business or role for themselves and are champions of creative fashion.'

Alison Moloney, British Council Regional Arts Manager said: 'Britain has an international reputation for nurturing young talent. The outstanding design education combined with the entrepreneurial spirit of our young designers has captured the imagination of international press, buyers and fashion houses. Our programme aims to identify fashion entrepreneurs, support them, create opportunities for commercial and
collaborative exchange and encourage ongoing networking. Through their participation they learn about their sector in other markets and become part of a dynamic network of their peers; through which further dialogue and trade take place.'