Behind the seams with Reem Acra
- 13 years ago
The scene: New York's garment district.
The subject: designer Reem Acra.
The lesson: fashion.
As the Lebanese designer pinned ribbon on a dress form, she could easily have been giving a master class in craftsmanship.
For the first time ever, the veteran designer is giving cameras a sneak peek inside her New York City workshop.
Acra, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, came to New York City in the 80s to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
After launching her bridal line in the 90's, her privately held business has evolved into a global brand with a loyal clientele of celebrities, royalty and affluent women.
SOUNDBITE: Reem Acra, designer, saying (English):
"The whole brand is about royalty. We design a lot for royal customers all around the world. I do lots of couture dresses, so there's always this royal look on my mind. Of course, I want to bring it into ready-to-wear. I was thinking, 'What is another good idea?' is really to bring these jewel tones, the jewel prints, into my collection."
And Reem custom made those tones with the use of mineral stones.
Last November, Acra returned to her roots by opening her first boutique in Beirut.
The New York-based designer says customers there a looking for a fusion of style.
SOUNDBITE: Reem Acra, designer, saying (English):
"Reem Acra is an American designer. For them, in their eye, I'm an American and truthfully, yes, I am. So they're looking for a combination of this look that has a little touch from them, from the background, from the embroidery and a touch from this American beautiful simplicity, so I'm that combination that puts the two worlds together, that combines the East and the West, and that combines the past and the future."
This fall, Acra is looking to expand into Europe, hoping to make Reem Acra gowns available around the world.
Alicia Powell, Reuters.
The subject: designer Reem Acra.
The lesson: fashion.
As the Lebanese designer pinned ribbon on a dress form, she could easily have been giving a master class in craftsmanship.
For the first time ever, the veteran designer is giving cameras a sneak peek inside her New York City workshop.
Acra, who was born in Beirut, Lebanon, came to New York City in the 80s to study at the Fashion Institute of Technology.
After launching her bridal line in the 90's, her privately held business has evolved into a global brand with a loyal clientele of celebrities, royalty and affluent women.
SOUNDBITE: Reem Acra, designer, saying (English):
"The whole brand is about royalty. We design a lot for royal customers all around the world. I do lots of couture dresses, so there's always this royal look on my mind. Of course, I want to bring it into ready-to-wear. I was thinking, 'What is another good idea?' is really to bring these jewel tones, the jewel prints, into my collection."
And Reem custom made those tones with the use of mineral stones.
Last November, Acra returned to her roots by opening her first boutique in Beirut.
The New York-based designer says customers there a looking for a fusion of style.
SOUNDBITE: Reem Acra, designer, saying (English):
"Reem Acra is an American designer. For them, in their eye, I'm an American and truthfully, yes, I am. So they're looking for a combination of this look that has a little touch from them, from the background, from the embroidery and a touch from this American beautiful simplicity, so I'm that combination that puts the two worlds together, that combines the East and the West, and that combines the past and the future."
This fall, Acra is looking to expand into Europe, hoping to make Reem Acra gowns available around the world.
Alicia Powell, Reuters.