The Arab Fashion Council (AFC) unveils a new initiative set to reshape the future of fashion in the region and beyond: the AFC Fashion Fund, a $500,000 USD biennial commitment that reimagines what it means to support emerging designers. Unlike traditional awards or cash prizes, the AFC Fashion Fund is a four-season brand-building accelerator designed to scale a visionary Ready-to-Wear (RTW) designer into a globally recognised force.
With only one designer selected every two years, the fund ensures unparalleled depth of support and personal investment. And while most fashion funds offer a moment, the AFC Fashion Fund builds a movement—transforming designers into enduring global brands through a 360° framework that includes: Four Seasons of Global Runway and Market Access, Strategic E-Commerce and Regional Expansion, Global Collaboration Challenge, and Continuous Mentorship and Brand Strategy
The Fund provides designers with three fully produced runway seasons by AFC, encompassing every aspect—from casting and styling to content creation, public relations, and social media amplification.
To strengthen market reach, the Fund also supports tailored capsule collections, especially for key cultural moments like Ramadan and Eid in the Middle East. It also facilitates integration into prominent retail networks and platforms across the GCC, while developing bespoke e-commerce and digital marketing strategies to grow direct-to-consumer sales.
One season is dedicated entirely to an exclusive collaboration with a globally recognised brand. This initiative, co-strategised by the AFC, is designed to enhance the designer’s credibility and open up significant commercial opportunities, positioning them for long-term success.
Successful participants gain access to an elite advisory board made up of industry-leading editors, investors, buyers, and creative visionaries. The Fund offers ongoing business coaching, guidance on pricing and collection planning, and support on intellectual property—ensuring designers grow not just creatively, but strategically.
Opening only once every two years, the AFC Fashion Fund is deeply selective and intentionally structured to create a high-impact journey for one designer at a time. Applications for the first cycle of the fund will open in June 2025, with the winner announced in October 2025. The selected designer will then begin their two-year journey, culminating in four runway seasons and global visibility by 2027.Key milestones include international runway showcases, showroom representation in Paris, mentorship, and an exclusive global collaboration
As the world’s largest non-profit fashion organisation representing the 22 Arab countries, the Arab Fashion Council is reshaping the fashion narrative from the Arab world—elevating its designers, platforms, and economic power. The AFC Fashion Fund further amplifies this mission by transforming regional creativity into global competitiveness.
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