“Malone Souliers makes shoes that challenge convention,” reads a statement about the noteworthy luxury shoe label founded by Mary Alice. The brand offers up elevated footwear styles for men and women and is a certified member of the Leather Working Group, designing all their products with emotion, integrity, and a zero-waste approach.
One of the fairy godmothers of the fashion world, Lebanon's Tania Fares, has dedicated her professional life to empowering creativity in London, the MENA region and beyond.https://t.co/6PiaJFuuha
— About Her (@AboutHerOFCL) May 4, 2021
Malone Souliers’ elegant styles are immediately recognizable, but Mary Alice’s beginnings had nothing to do with shoe making or fashion. In fact, she was a distinguished dressage rider and became selected for the U.S. Junior Olympic Equestrian Team.
The festive-worthy shoes in Dima Ayad’s collaboration with Malone Souliers may have been launched during Ramadan, but the fun, head-turning yet functional shoes are a must-own for any special gathering this season: https://t.co/D8fq7pUmyJ pic.twitter.com/trfBcg3Cs2
— About Her (@AboutHerOFCL) May 6, 2022
Visits from an eccentric grandmother sparked her curiosity in the transformative power of fashion and a passion for psychology led to an education in political science. She later discovered her vocation as a 'maker' and enrolled in art school in Colorado and as her affinity for craftsmanship and structural forms grew, she went on to study shoe-making at London College of Fashion's Cordwainers course. Mary Alice's psychology background remains an endless source of inspiration, ensuring that her designs explore more profound concepts than fashion themes alone.
Earlier this month, Virgil Abloh inaugurated an eponymous exhibit in Qatar at Doha's Fire Station. He also handed Jordanian designer Amina Muaddi her Fashion Trust Arabia award. May he rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/kgB5CBuRYA
— About Her (@AboutHerOFCL) November 28, 2021
Mary Alice founded Malone Souliers in 2014 and has led the brand to become a globally renowned household name.
Now in 2022, Mary Alice Malone, Founder and Creative Director of Malone Souliers, has been appointed a new esteemed members of the advisory board for the Fashion Trust Arabia Awards which will take place on 26th October 2022, in Doha, Qatar.
Mary Alice, an expert within her field, is among other leading fashion figures within the industry including Erdem Moralioglu, Olivier Theyskens, Gaia Repossi, Pierre M’Pelé and Piergiorgio Del Moro, who have joined the advisory board of the fourth edition of Fashion Trust Arabia’s annual prize for fashion designers from the Middle East and North Africa.
The non-profit organization is planning a live awards ceremony at which the advisory board will select the 24 finalists who will present their work to the Fashion Trust Arabia jury. The winners in the four main categories will receive a financial grant of between $100,000 and $200,000, while the recipient of the Franca Sozzani Award will secure a cash award of $25,000 and a mentorship program.
Winning designers will also benefit from a one-year partnership with British luxury retailer Matchesfashion, which includes a mentorship program and the opportunity to showcase their collections across all Matchesfashion channels. In addition, they will receive guidance on sustainability from ethical fashion retailer Maison de Monde.
This year, the chosen guest country is Turkey, with a separate award to be handed to a Turkish designer specializing in women’s ready-to-wear. The board will also be responsible for creating the shortlist of Turkish designers for the Guest Country Award, to be conferred in partnership with the Istanbul Apparel Exporters’ Association.
