Naznin Akter crowned winner of Abaya Design Award

[Fibre2fashion]

UAE resident and Bangladeshi national Naznin Akter has been crowned the winner of the Abaya Design Award, sponsored by Persil Abaya Shampoo on the final day of The Bride Show Abu Dhabi.

The ten finalists’ designs were modeled down the catwalk in front of hundreds of supporters and a panel of judges comprising Abdul Sami Qahar, brand manager of Persil, Maryam Al Shaibani, Emirati fashion designer, Zahra Karmostaji, fashion designer and Soha Mikati from AnaZahra.

The judges’ scores were combined with votes made by the public on AnaZahra and their Facebook page and Naznin was joined by first and second runner up Alreem Alrashdi and Madiha Noreen on stage with their designs.

“This has been a dream come true and I’m so happy to go home the winner of this competition, especially given how beautiful all the designs are,” said Naznin backstage. “I’ve been studying fashion design for the last three years at Preston University in Dubai, but my biggest challenge was keeping the classic and elegant theme in mind and trying to imagine what the judges would expect from us.”

Naznin, who has lived in the UAE for the last 16 years, goes home with AED5,000 which she intends to put towards starting a professional career in fashion design.

More than 100 enquiries were made to enter the competition, sponsored for the first time by Persil Abaya Shampoo which is especially created to make sure black remains black and to care for the elegant Abaya, particularly when it is embellished with delicate material and crystals.

Entrants were asked to submit mood boards to express an elegant, classical Abaya design suitable to wear to a glamorous wedding, providing details of the style, materials and embellishments.

The awards, which were open to UAE residents only, have been designed to provide a platform for undiscovered talent in the emirates. 

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