2nd Edition of EBDA'A Award 2014 - Competition for Emirati Jewellery Designers Opens

Inspirational UAE Entrepreneur And Jewellery Designer Azza Al Qubaisi To Mentor Participants

EBDA’A AWARD 2014, UAE’s first jewellery design competition for Emiratis launched in 2013 as part of the International Jewellery and Watch Show (JWS) held in Abu Dhabi, announced today that the competition has opened for entries. JWS 2014 will be held from 13-17 March 2014 at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC).

Acclaimed Emirati jewelleryartist and entrepreneur, Azza Al Qubaisi, will be back this year to mentor budding local designers participating in the competition.

EBDA’A Award offers outstanding prizes to support the development of the Emirati jewellery design sector and promote UAE jewellery products to national and international buyers.

Open to emerging designers, artists and students from universities across the UAE, the EBDA’A Award seeks to award the most creative and inspiring entries received. It is in three categories including daywear and casual jewellery; evening wear and contemporary interpretation of traditional jewellery. The daywear and casual jewellery category of this competition is also open to UAE residents.

Interested entrants can read the eligibility criteria and entry details on the competition website – www.jws.ae, download and complete the online application form before 20 February 2014.

Azza Al Qubaisi said, “The EBDA’A AWARD competition aims to encourage Emirati jewellery designers and artists push their limits of jewelry design and imagination. It is an opportunity and platform for designers to have their work displayed under the same roof as the region’s most renowned jewellerybrands. More importantly, it is our quest for designers who can use the UAE’s cultural traditions as inspiration and help carve a niche for Emirati jewellery designs internationally.”

The inaugural edition of the competition helped discover, expose, develop and display progressive design and national talent in gold jewellery. Three young Emirati jewellery designers were recognized as the first prize winners - AmnahAlbloushi (daywear jewellery), Asma Abdulla (evening jewellery) and Dhabia Al Mansoori (contemporary interpretation). They were each awarded a trophy and a certificate by His Excellency Ibrahim Mahmoud, Chairman of Abu Dhabi Gold and Jewellery Group, and the jury members of the competition.

“The first year was an exciting journey through the EBDA’A AWARD selection and judging process. The success and response it received last year makes me keener to be part of the 2014 edition”, Al Qubaisi continued.

Raya Dandal, Show Manager for Reed Exhibitions, said, “The inaugural edition of EBDA’A Award competition successfully achieved its objective in tapping into the community of talented jewellery designers among the UAE population and encouraging them to showcase their skills to the world. This year, once again, we are working relentlessly to attract, develop and promote a pool of jewellery designers with their original and striking contemporary design concepts.”

A shortlist of three finalists in each category will be selected by a jury in the first stage of judging. Finalists will then be requested to present their jewellery design sketches and mock-up for the final selection of three “best of show “awards. Entries will be judged on creativity and innovation; aesthetics, craftsmanship and wearability; marketability and topic relevance. The winners will be awarded at a prestigious award ceremony held on 15 March during JWS 2014.

This year, 150 exhibitors from 20 countries, including Italy, Brazil, Singapore, China, Japan, Turkey, the UK and the USA, are expected to offer their latest designs at JWS 2014.

Emirate:  Abu Dhabi

Date: Jan 26, 2014

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