UAE labels nominated for coveted Woolmark Prize

The annual prize, sponsored by the Australian wool industry, was first awarded to Yves Saint Laurent and Karl Lagerfeld in 1954 and is held in a different fashion capital every year.

Emirati label House of Fatam, along with two Dubai-based names, Emperor 1688 and Kage, will compete with 62 designers from countries in five regions — Asia, Europe, USA, Australia and Middle East and India — for the Dh 350,000 prize to be announced next year.

The three labels were nominated by Fashion Forward (FFWD), the twice-yearly fashion week-style event in Dubai, which has just been named an official nominating body for the prize.

House of Fatam was founded by Emirati sisters Lamya, Shaima and Fatma Gargash, while Emperor 1688 is run by the Golkar brothers Babak, Haman and Farhan. Kage was founded in Dubai in 2009 by friends Arwa Abdul Hadi and Basma Abu Gazaleh.

The award this year will include a menswear category for the first time.