The Pioneer: Reem Acra On 25 Years Marrying East With West

Reem Acra discusses the East meets West dialogue in her work, and how she’s managed to reign supreme for over 25 years

Reem Acra remains a behemoth in the world of fashion. She meets Bazaar Qatar during Fashion Trust Arabia (FTA) – fittingly, given her pioneering role in bringing Middle Eastern designs to global audiences. Since her groundbreaking early campaigns, shot by Ruven Afanador and styled by Freddie Lieba, the beautiful dialogue between East and West has remained key to the DNA of her brand. “I always wanted to create designs that captured my essence. I am Lebanese with a twist,” she tells Bazaar Qatar. “It was never about a pure white dress. It’s something different – a meeting of two worlds.”

Her international success has both inspired and laid the foundations for generations of emerging talent in the region and beyond. Is that global road now easier to traverse for young designers from the Middle East? “I helped to open the road,” she says. “But at the same time, I never looked at it as being closed. There were, of course, many difficulties as a woman, 25 years-ago, introducing totally new designs into the US market. I knew I had to be extremely specific and completely myself. There’s only room in this industry for people that will stand out. You have to be authentic and be prepared to work hard. FTA is brilliant because it’s giving young designers the tools and the opportunity.”

Her eponymous S/S26 collection continues to demonstrate exactly that sense of authenticity. Unfolding as an emotional journey, the collection captures the essence of a woman roaming the world with only a luxurious jacquard trunk, unraveling her identity through the wardrobe she discovers within. Featuring hand-painted petals blooming across Mikado, pastel ferns unfurling over feather-light tweed, lush English bouquets spilling over a sunlit yellow gown, and rich brocades that echo roses in full bloom, it’s a collection that captures the joy and hope of spring, and one that speaks directly to the Reem Acra woman. Embellishment, always central to Reem’s vocabulary, transforms garments into living stories. “My client has not changed,” says Reem. “She has evolved. My identity is what has made me who I am today, and it’s important for me to keep that. That’s something I would advise the young generation. You’ve got to understand your client.”

For her latest bridal collection, that understanding plays out in gowns that embody sophistication and timeless elegance; one in which delicate lace dances with the softest blooms, creating an ethereal, regal symphony. “I have a real affinity with my Reem Acra brides,” she says. “It’s such a special moment in a woman’s life and builds such an enduring relationship. It’s transformative.”

As for being back in Doha, a city she feels a deep connection with, it’s always good to return. “Fifty One East and Darwish are like family,” she says. “In Qatar, you find community; it’s intimate, there’s this warmth. There’s a sense of sharing and reciprocity here, which is beautiful.”

Imagery Supplied

Lead Image Credits: The Lebanese designer

From the Harper’s Bazaar Qatar Spring 2026 issue