Palestinian Jordanian Designer Sylwia Nazzal Nominated for Fashion Trust Arabia Award

DUBAI: The Fashion Trust Arabia Awards have emerged as a significant force in the regional fashion industry, providing a platform for talented designers to showcase their work and gain recognition. Winning these awards can often serve as a turning point in a designer's career, propelling them to new heights. This year, among the finalists is Palestinian Jordanian designer Sylwia Nazzal, whose journey is marked by resilience and determination.

At just 23 years old, Nazzal, a graduate of Parsons Paris, is competing for the prestigious Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award. She stands alongside other talented designers, including Iraqi Mahmood Al-Safi and Lebanese Mira Maktabi. Despite being relatively new to the fashion scene, Nazzal possesses a remarkable confidence and strength that has allowed her to navigate the challenges she has faced.

Nazzal's final project, titled "What Should Have Been Home," has been a source of both inspiration and controversy. The collection reflects Palestinian strength and resilience, drawing from archival images that depict the harsh realities faced by children and adults under Israeli armed forces. Nazzal explained, "When I was coming up with the name, it came to me because I was sitting with a group of people and they were talking to me about how they want to do their thesis about their home … I’m like, ‘mine is what should have been.’" This powerful statement encapsulates her vision and the emotional weight behind her work.

However, Nazzal has encountered significant pushback due to the political nature of her collection. She noted a lack of interest from potential employers and European fashion awards, stating, "When you open my portfolio, the first thing is my thesis collection, which is called ‘What Should Be Home’ about Palestinian resistance against oppression and then you see the imagery of children being arrested by soldiers. I think immediately people closed the portfolio and sent it back." This experience highlights the challenges faced by artists who dare to address sensitive political issues through their work.

Fortunately, Nazzal discovered the Fashion Trust Arabia, which has provided her with a valuable opportunity to showcase her talent. The upcoming awards ceremony will take place in Marrakesh, Morocco, where 18 finalists from the MENA region will compete for six different awards, including the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award. The advisory board, which includes renowned designers such as Erdem Moralıoglu and Kelly Wearstler, will select the winners, who will receive financial grants ranging from $50,000 to $200,000, along with various mentoring and retail opportunities.

Nazzal's collection is characterized by its focus on form and fabric, utilizing textiles that embody concepts of endurance and resilience. The largely monochromatic pieces prominently feature nylon, while the silhouettes pay homage to traditional Islamic attire, specifically the khimar dress. Nazzal describes her work as offering a sense of "otherworldliness," stating, "I’m Palestinian, I’ve only been to Palestine once … I have friends who’ve never been to Palestine but are super-connected to Palestine … some might say it doesn’t exist or it partially exists or it’s no longer Palestine, and yet we all still claim it and so it kind of creates this other world, other universe of where Palestine exists, as it does in the physical, but also in a spiritual sense."

When asked to choose a piece that encapsulates her collection, Nazzal selected a dress made from 10,000 Palestinian coins, which she hand-stitched with the help of Palestinian refugee women in Jordan. She emphasized the significance of this piece, stating, "That is actually what embodies the collection … (because) there’s this weight, this reflectiveness, this sense of armor, as a spiritual armor … protecting the entity of Palestine." This dress not only represents her artistic vision but also serves as a powerful symbol of cultural identity and resilience.

Sylwia Nazzal's journey as a Palestinian Jordanian designer is a testament to the power of creativity and determination in the face of adversity. Her work not only challenges the norms of the fashion industry but also sheds light on the struggles faced by her people. As she competes for the Franca Sozzani Debut Talent Award, Nazzal's story serves as an inspiration to aspiring designers everywhere, reminding us that art can be a powerful tool for change and a means of expressing one's identity.