Brand: Reem Acra Category: Fashion Establishment: 1997 Nationality: LebaneseAmerican Headquarters: U.S. Acra’s talent was first discovered by a fashion editor at a party while she was still a student at the American University of Beirut. She debuted her designs at her first fashion show only ten days later. In 1997, Acra’s first bridal design was worn by a high-profile socialite. She established her eponymous line, Reem Acra New York, in the same year. Acra launched her first ready-to-wear collection in 2001. Her designs have been seen on celebrities such as Angelina Jolie, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, Halle Berry and Selena Gomez at events like the Oscars, Grammys, and Golden Globes.
Amina Muaddi
BY LAYAN ABO SHKIER; IMAGE FROM SOURCE
Brand: Amina Muaddi Category: Footwear Establishment: 2018 Nationality: JordanianRomanian Headquarters: France Muaddi first launched her footwear label in August 2018, after leaving her role as cofounder and creative director of luxury footwear brand Oscar Tiye in Milan. Her designs of architectural-heeled shoes have attracted the attention of some of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, Dua Lipa, and Lady Gaga. Muaddi’ co-designed shoes for Rihanna’s multi-million Fenty brand in 2020, and collaborated with A$AP Rocky’s creative agency, AWGE, in the same year.
Nour Hammour Brand: Nour Hammour Category: Fashion Establishment: 2013 Nationality: Lebanese Headquarters: France Hammour is best known for her F O R B E S M I D D L E E A S T.C O M
Brands
International Brands With
Arab Roots
These seven designers with Arab roots have established international fashion brands based outside MENA.
Reem Acra leather jackets and other leather goods. The brand claims to be a “no waste” business under an initiative called “Recut” by Nour Hammour, which commits to using any post-production scraps to create a small leather goods collection. Hammour’s designs have been seen on celebrities such as Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Beyonce, Kourtney Kardashian, Rita Ora, Blake Lively, Irina Shayk, and Kaia Gerber. Lebanese actress Nadine Nassib Njeim wore a jacket by Nour Hammour on the cover of Vogue Arabia in January 2020.
Sara Al-Saud Brand: Death By Dolls Category: Fashion Establishment: 2008 Nationality: Saudi Headquarters: U.S. Born and raised in London, Al-Saud established Death By Dolls with her sister in 2008. She put the project on hold when she moved to the U.S. to study clinical psychology, but restarted after graduation in 2014. Her designs
have been seen on celebrities such as Beyoncé, Jennifer Lopez, Kylie Jenner, Kendall Jenner, Hailey Bieber, Niki Minaj, Cardi B, Doja Cat, and Migos. In March 2022, Niki Minaj wore a Death By Dolls denim puffer jacket to promote her new single, Blick Blick. Al-Saud plans to expand into the Middle East, and held her first fashion show in Dubai in March 2022 as part of Arab Fashion Week.
Abeer Al Otaiba Brand: SemSem Category: Fashion Establishment: 2015 Nationality: Emirati Headquarters: U.S. Born and raised in Egypt, Al Otaiba moved to the U.A.E. to begin her career as a civil engineer, before moving to the U.S. and establishing her brand. SemSem was inspired by Al Otaiba’s daughter, Samia. The brand creates complementary designs for mothers and daughters. The label has been seen on celebrities including Katy Perry, Blake Lively, Nicky
Hilton, Kourtney Kardashian, Gigi Hadid, Cynthia Erivo, Drew Barrymore, and Chrissy Teigen.
Ayah Mufleh Brand: Ishimmer Category: Beauty Establishment: 2014 Nationality: Jordanian Headquarters: U.K. Mufleh initially established her fake eyelashes label, Ishimmer, in Jordan, working alone on the branding, packaging, online selling, and all aspects of the brand. In 2019, she relaunched Ishimmer in the U.K. Ishimmer’s eyelashes have been seen on celebrities such as Gigi Hadid, Bella Hadid, Lucy Hale, Winnie Harlow, Gemma Chan and Nicola Coughlan, Sophie Turner, Adriana Lima, Phoebe Deynevor, and Lucy Hale. In 2021, the brand launched its Virtual Lash tool, whereby customers can virtually try the lashes before they buy them.
Bouchra Ezzahraoui Darwazah Brand: Aurate New York Category: Jewelry Establishment: 2017 Nationality: MoroccanAmerican Headquarters: U.S. Darwazah founded Aurate with her Dutch cofounder Sophie Kahn. Aurate New York’s pieces have been seen on international celebrities such as Julia Roberts, Anne Hathaway, Gabrielle Union, Kerry Washington, Priyanka Chopra, and Lucy Hale. The sustainable jewelry label uses 100% recycled gold that is developed from pre-existing gold material. According to Aurate, its diamonds and pearls are also sourced and harvested in a sustainable way. Bouchra is also an angel investor, a member of the Visionary Committee of Friends of Hudson River Park in New York, and a founding member of the Moroccan Children Parliament, an initiative started by UNESCO in 1999.
MAY 2022
21 LEADERBOARD
Reem Acra
