Reem Acra
Encyclopedia
Reem Acra is an internationally known Lebanese
fashion design
er. She studied in Paris, as well as New York. She is known for her bridal designs
. Her designs are sold in famous clothing boutiques such as Saks Fifth Avenue
and Neiman Marcus
. She has been on several popular magazines including In Style
, Town & Country
, Vogue
, Women's Wear Daily
, Sayidaty [English] and W
. Her fine evening gowns are also sold all over the world.
The Reem Acra flagship store is on East 60th Street in New York City
.
by her grandmother, who had a skilled hand for creating handmade silk flowers
. According to her biography
, Reem Acra studied design in both Paris
and New York
at the Esmod Ecole de Mode of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology
, respectively, where she acquired several prestigious awards. After her studies and practical design experience, she returned to New York where her atelier quickly gained international recognition. Her collections are carried in more than 100 of the most exclusive retailers in the world including Bergdorf Goodman
, Neiman Marcus
, and Saks Fifth Avenue
as well as her flagship Manhattan boutique.
As a wedding gown designer, Reem Acra began her career as an embroidery artist in New York. She launched her own bridal gown company in 1995 and has shot to the top in the bridal business. The luxurious silk satin and intricate beadwork has made Acra bridal gowns some of the most beautiful on the market.
. The Reem Acra bridal signature line has influenced various wedding trends. Reem creates delicate beadwork of tiny swarovski crystals and seed pearls. Acra's ability to create intricate gold bullion needlework and shadow embroidery sewn under rich fabrics allows for a classic, traditional bridal dress. Reem Acra has become one of the leading names in the luxury bridal and eveningwear market. Celebrities as well as brides turn to her for that special moment, be it a walk down the aisle or the red carpet
. Later, Acra expanded her repertoire by introducing daywear pieces into her collection. Known for her attention to detail, signature beaded embroideries, and unique fabric combinations.
Reem Acra’s exquisite gowns exude her own innate sense of style and love of fashion
. Acra’s gowns are a direct reflection of her design philosophy
that poetically combines her appreciation for the traditional and classic with the modern fashion needs of today’s stylish woman. The designer’s gowns particularly appeal to women of individual style who are looking for glamour and sophistication on the most important day of their life.
explores the theory of rejuvenation, keeping the looks fresh and ethereal with a modern touch. The common thread through the collection is the emphasis on the waist and the refined look of luxury. I am peeling back the surface of my designs and revealing what lies beneath,” said Reem Acra.
Painting a picture of a garden tea party one by one, the 40 ensembles literally seemed to spring up like blooms from a fresh cut arrangement. The use of bright hues, especially the juxtaposition of bold colors was a very strong trend on the runways this season. The sumptuous fabrics employed helped convey a heightened sense of ease and luxury from confetti lace, jacquard, and organza to charmeuse, taffeta, and chiffon. The handwork for which Acra is celebrated only further enhanced the silhouette and movement of her garments with lovely design details such as laser-cutting, three-dimension appliqués, and flocked discs.
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
fashion design
Fashion design
Fashion design is the art of the application of design and aesthetics or natural beauty to clothing and accessories. Fashion design is influenced by cultural and social latitudes, and has varied over time and place. Fashion designers work in a number of ways in designing clothing and accessories....
er. She studied in Paris, as well as New York. She is known for her bridal designs
Wedding dress
A wedding dress or wedding gown is the clothing worn by a bride during a wedding ceremony. Color, style and ceremonial importance of the gown can depend on the religion and culture of the wedding participants.- Western culture :...
. Her designs are sold in famous clothing boutiques such as Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
and Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
. She has been on several popular magazines including In Style
In Style
InStyle is a monthly women’s fashion magazine published in the United States by Time Inc. Along with advertising, the magazine offers articles about beauty, fashion, home, entertaining, charitable endeavors and celebrity lifestyles. Launched in 1993 , InStyle currently has a circulation of 1.7...
, Town & Country
Town & Country (magazine)
Town & Country, formerly the Home Journal and The National Press, is a monthly American lifestyle magazine. It is the oldest continually published general interest magazine in the United States.-Early history:...
, Vogue
Vogue (magazine)
Vogue is a fashion and lifestyle magazine that is published monthly in 18 national and one regional edition by Condé Nast.-History:In 1892 Arthur Turnure founded Vogue as a weekly publication in the United States. When he died in 1909, Condé Montrose Nast picked up the magazine and slowly began...
, Women's Wear Daily
Women's Wear Daily
Women's Wear Daily is a fashion-industry trade journal sometimes called "the bible of fashion." WWD delivers information and intelligence on changing trends and breaking news in the fashion, beauty and retail industries with a readership composed largely of retailers, designers, manufacturers,...
, Sayidaty [English] and W
W (magazine)
W is a monthly American fashion magazine published by Condé Nast Publications, who purchased original owner Fairchild Publications in 1999. It was created in 1971 by the publisher of sister magazine Woman's Wear Daily, James Brady. The magazine is an oversize format – ten inches wide and...
. Her fine evening gowns are also sold all over the world.
The Reem Acra flagship store is on East 60th Street in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Early life and career
Born in Lebanon, Reem was introduced to the intricate world of artArt
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
by her grandmother, who had a skilled hand for creating handmade silk flowers
Artificial flower
Artificial flowers are imitations of natural flowering plants, used for commercial or residential decoration. They are sometimes made for scientific purposes .Materials used in their manufacture have included painted linen and shavings of stained horn in Egypt, gold and...
. According to her biography
Biography
A biography is a detailed description or account of someone's life. More than a list of basic facts , biography also portrays the subject's experience of those events...
, Reem Acra studied design in both Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
at the Esmod Ecole de Mode of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology
Fashion Institute of Technology
The Fashion Institute of Technology, generally known as FIT, is a State University of New York college of art, business, design, and technology connected to the fashion industry, with an urban campus located on West 27th Street between Seventh and Eighth Avenues in the Chelsea neighborhood of...
, respectively, where she acquired several prestigious awards. After her studies and practical design experience, she returned to New York where her atelier quickly gained international recognition. Her collections are carried in more than 100 of the most exclusive retailers in the world including Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman
Bergdorf Goodman is a luxury goods department store based on Fifth Avenue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The company was founded in 1899 by Herman Bergdorf and was later owned and managed by Edwin Goodman, and later his son Andrew Goodman....
, Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus
Neiman Marcus, formerly Neiman-Marcus, is a luxury specialty retail department store operated by the Neiman Marcus Group in the United States. The company is headquartered in the One Marcus Square building in Downtown Dallas, Texas, and competes with other department stores such as Saks Fifth...
, and Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue
Saks Fifth Avenue is a luxury American specialty store owned and operated by Saks Fifth Avenue Enterprises , a subsidiary of Saks Incorporated. It competes in the high-end specialty store market in the Upper East Side of Manhattan, i.e. 'the 3 B's' Bergdorf, Barneys, Bloomingdale's and Lord & Taylor...
as well as her flagship Manhattan boutique.
As a wedding gown designer, Reem Acra began her career as an embroidery artist in New York. She launched her own bridal gown company in 1995 and has shot to the top in the bridal business. The luxurious silk satin and intricate beadwork has made Acra bridal gowns some of the most beautiful on the market.
Skills
Wedding gown designer, Reem Acra is recognized for her signature use of embroideryEmbroidery
Embroidery is the art or handicraft of decorating fabric or other materials with needle and thread or yarn. Embroidery may also incorporate other materials such as metal strips, pearls, beads, quills, and sequins....
. The Reem Acra bridal signature line has influenced various wedding trends. Reem creates delicate beadwork of tiny swarovski crystals and seed pearls. Acra's ability to create intricate gold bullion needlework and shadow embroidery sewn under rich fabrics allows for a classic, traditional bridal dress. Reem Acra has become one of the leading names in the luxury bridal and eveningwear market. Celebrities as well as brides turn to her for that special moment, be it a walk down the aisle or the red carpet
Red carpet
A red carpet is traditionally used to mark the route taken by heads of state on ceremonial and formal occasions, and has in recent decades been extended to use by VIPs and celebrities at formal events.- History :...
. Later, Acra expanded her repertoire by introducing daywear pieces into her collection. Known for her attention to detail, signature beaded embroideries, and unique fabric combinations.
Reem Acra’s exquisite gowns exude her own innate sense of style and love of fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
. Acra’s gowns are a direct reflection of her design philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
that poetically combines her appreciation for the traditional and classic with the modern fashion needs of today’s stylish woman. The designer’s gowns particularly appeal to women of individual style who are looking for glamour and sophistication on the most important day of their life.
2008 Spring Collection
“This seasonSeason
A season is a division of the year, marked by changes in weather, ecology, and hours of daylight.Seasons result from the yearly revolution of the Earth around the Sun and the tilt of the Earth's axis relative to the plane of revolution...
explores the theory of rejuvenation, keeping the looks fresh and ethereal with a modern touch. The common thread through the collection is the emphasis on the waist and the refined look of luxury. I am peeling back the surface of my designs and revealing what lies beneath,” said Reem Acra.
Painting a picture of a garden tea party one by one, the 40 ensembles literally seemed to spring up like blooms from a fresh cut arrangement. The use of bright hues, especially the juxtaposition of bold colors was a very strong trend on the runways this season. The sumptuous fabrics employed helped convey a heightened sense of ease and luxury from confetti lace, jacquard, and organza to charmeuse, taffeta, and chiffon. The handwork for which Acra is celebrated only further enhanced the silhouette and movement of her garments with lovely design details such as laser-cutting, three-dimension appliqués, and flocked discs.