The Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) Awards, held at El Badi Palace in Marrakech last night, was far more meaningful for Imaan Hammam’s model than a typical industry event. “I was excited to attend this year’s FTA Awards ever since the location was revealed,” she told Vogue. “Morocco is my home, so I wanted to have a special involvement,” she did, giving the event’s opening remarks.
Hammam was born and raised in Amsterdam, but his mother is from Morocco, and Hammam was a frequent visitor to the country throughout his life. “My earliest memories of Marrakech are with my mother, grandmother, and getting lost walking through the souks,” she says. “It’s still one of the things I want to do when I return home.” She also makes it a point to enjoy her favorite local dish, tanjia with preserved lemon. (“We cook in clay pots in the basement,” she said.)
For this trip, she added a lot of fashion and beauty to her itinerary. “The first thing that came to mind was to wear an original kaftan,” Hammam says of planning the FTA look. “I reached out to my friend Badr and started brainstorming. We wanted to pay homage to the royal family and specifically mention Lalla Meryem. Her look is a blend of tradition and modernity. , which was very inspirational to me.” Hammam turned to Selma Benomar for a custom black caftan that highlighted Moroccan artistry and design. Meanwhile, hairstylist Hos Funkpatin gave Hammam a modern twist with a ’90s supermodel-inspired bob, while makeup artist Nadia Taie added dark eyeliner and gold accents to her skin. It was applied to According to Hammam, this look is something she’s always wanted to pull together for an event and was just waiting for the right moment. “It was the most appropriate time to be in Morocco for the FTA.”
Before that, Hamm tells Vogue how she spent her day in Marrakech, from meeting the FTA nominees and sitting in the glamorous chairs to taking the stage at the ceremony.
