Emirati Designer Maitha Alansaari Wins ADMAF x Dolce&Gabbana Design Award 2025.
Award-winning creation to be displayed in Abu Dhabi for six months; applications for the third edition open until 16 November 2026
AbuDhabi(News Desk):: Emirati fashion designer Maitha Alansaari has won the ADMAF x Dolce&Gabbana Design Award 2025 for her creation A Journey Woven in Fragments, a contemporary cape that brings Emirati heritage and Italian craftsmanship together through innovative design.
The Abu Dhabi Music & Arts Foundation (ADMAF), in partnership with Italian luxury fashion house Dolce&Gabbana, announced the winner following a special gathering held on October 13, attended by H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo, Founder of ADMAF and Founder and Artistic Director of Abu Dhabi Festival, along with representatives of Dolce&Gabbana.
The winning design, together with the creations of runners-up Fakhra Almansoori and Mohamed Alowais, will be displayed at the Dolce&Gabbana boutique at The Galleria Al Maryah Island in Abu Dhabi for six months. The three designs have been produced by the Italian fashion house.
Maitha’s award-winning creation explores cultural identity through layered patchwork motifs inspired by Emirati heritage and Italian artistry. Advanced digital printing techniques ensure the garment remains lightweight and comfortable, while hand-applied embroidery adds depth, detail and couture craftsmanship. The design reflects a balance between traditional influences and contemporary luxury.
H.E. Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo said the award reflects ADMAF’s commitment to investing in creative talent and empowering Emirati designers through opportunities for learning, artistic excellence and international exposure.
She noted that this year’s participants drew inspiration from the traditional Emirati abaya, reinterpreting floral patterns, lace, embellishments, patchwork, hand-painting and embroidery through contemporary design. The initiative, she added, demonstrates how cultural heritage can serve as a continuing source of innovation while international partnerships create new opportunities for Emirati creatives.
As part of her prize, Maitha will undertake a six-month international internship at Dolce&Gabbana in Milan, Italy, beginning in January 2027. The programme will provide hands-on experience in the fashion house’s ateliers, where she will work under the guidance of its artisans and further develop her design skills.
Reflecting on her achievement, Maitha said the award demonstrated the power of design to build bridges between cultures. She described her winning creation as a dialogue between Emirati heritage and Italian artistry, brought together through craftsmanship, storytelling and innovation.
Maitha was among the first graduating cohort to earn a bachelor’s degree in Fashion and Textile Design in the UAE from the University of Sharjah. She also co-founded House of 45, Sharjah’s first concept store, which supports emerging designers through curated retail and creative programming. Her work focuses on translating heritage into contemporary luxury.
Fakhra Almansoori was named runner-up for Lace Mirage, a reinterpretation of the traditional black abaya inspired by the dunes of Liwa and Dolce&Gabbana’s signature lace. The design incorporates concealed pleated silk and lace panels that emerge through movement, creating a connection between Emirati heritage and Italian design.
Fellow runner-up Mohamed Alowais presented Ethereal Being, a contemporary interpretation of the Emirati mukhawar. Combining lace, beadwork, archival motifs, flowing drapery and structured elements, the design explores memory, resilience and the evolving nature of cultural identity.
The 2025 selection committee was chaired by Huda Alkhamis-Kanoo and included representatives of Dolce&Gabbana Alta Moda, H.E. Asma Al Fahim, CEO of Arabian Publishing Media, artist and designer Azza Al Qubaisi, and Marie Genevieve Cyr, Education Director at Istituto Marangoni Dubai. Following the selection of three finalists in December 2025, the designers refined their concepts through a series of regional workshops conducted in collaboration with Dolce&Gabbana.
Alongside announcing the winner, ADMAF and Dolce&Gabbana have opened applications for the award’s third edition. Emerging Emirati designers aged 18 to 35 are invited to submit their fashion concepts by 16 November 2026.
Launched in 2023, the ADMAF x Dolce&Gabbana Design Award aims to nurture the UAE’s next generation of creative talent by combining traditional heritage with innovation in fashion and couture craftsmanship. Through mentorship, professional development and international exposure, the initiative provides emerging designers with opportunities to strengthen their skills and build global connections.
The award forms part of ADMAF’s broader educational programmes supporting national talent across the cultural and creative industries, reinforcing Abu Dhabi’s role as a centre for artistic innovation.- END-
