By albawaba.com

Lebanon’s Alaa Najd has been announced the winner of the first season of Project Runway ME on MBC4 and MBC Masr 2.

The
grand show finale took place at Dubai Design District (d3) where each
designer showcased their final collections. The live studio audience
included Arab celebrities and socialites, members of the press, fashion
bloggers and social media influencers. Meanwhile, guest judging this
episode – alongside international designer Elie Saab and Tunisian
fashion icon and media personality Afef Jnifen – was Algerian-French
actress and former fashion model Farida Khelfa.

The finalists included Rayan Atlas from Algeria, Selim Chebil from Tunisia, Issa Hesso from Syria and of course, Najd.

Commenting on his win, Najd thanked MBC Group along with the entire Project Runway ME team,
including the members of the jury, led by the world-renowned celebrity
designer Elie Saab, who was the head of the judging panel.

He described Saab as “a father figure,
an inspiration to us all, and the perfect mentor. We couldn’t have asked
for someone better to leads us all.”

Meanwhile, head of the jury
Elie Saab congratulated Najd on his win, stating that he was satisfied
with the result, adding that humility, hard work and varied inspiration
was key to his future success as a designer.

“Throughout the
season, the show has showcased some tremendous talent and creativity,
not to mention a great competitive spirit between the designers. I’ve
always said that I want to promote fashion and design in the Arab world,
and thanks to MBC Group becoming the incubator and optimising that
goal, we’ve been able to enter every Arab household – thus enabling all
family members, not just the fashion enthusiasts, enjoy the show.”

Elie Saab made sure to point out that “the door would always be open” for all of the contestants on Project Runway ME should
they wish to as part of the House of Elie Saab’s team. However, he
acknowledged that he respected the designer’s independence in order to
establish themselves as their own brand.

Mazen Hayek, Official
Spokesman of MBC Group noted the importance of the collaboration between
the House of ELIE SAAB and MBC Group, also praising the constructive
role played by Saab and Jnifen, as well as the guest-star judges over
the whole season. Hayek extended thanks and appreciation to “Dubai
Design District – d3” for their support of the programme as well as
their efforts in promoting the fashion industry in the Middle-East
region.

“In parallel to the programme’s success in terms of the
viewership – not to mention the premium production value and directorial
practices presented to the highest standard led by Samar Akrouk and her
team – Project Runway ME has achieved its strategic
objectives, building on the success of MBC Group’s roster of talent and
reality television entertainment and promoting the fashion and creative
industries in the region.”

In addition to being named the very first winner of Project Runway ME,
Najd has received US$50,000 towards his first fashion show, courtesy of
Maybelline New York. He’s also walked away with a year’s membership
with the Dubai Design and Fashion Council, plus his very own creative
space in the emirate. The designer’s creations will be the star of
Harper’s Bazaar Arabia’s very first issue of 2017, where his designs
will feature on the January cover as well as in a special
multiple-spread feature.