What was your inspiration for this collection?

I'm traveling quite a lot. I loved my last collection, and that started with the Japanese garden. I'm still searching for my roots in the Far East, so [I thought] why not travel the timeline to China.

What sets this collection apart from others we've seen this season?

It was so much fun to design this collection because this time I felt free and like myself. I played a lot with the fabrics and just had so much fun designing dresses that look simple, yet are very complicated and have so many things going on. For the past three years I had simple dresses, and I knew that I had to embellish them. So I thought on my own very hard and worked on the machines. Most people said, "What is she doing...she shouldn't even touch the machines," but I said, "Leave me alone; I know what I'm doing." Suddenly all of these things were appearing and everyone was so excited in the sample room to see how these simple dresses became so couture when we put things on them.

What kind of girl wears wears Reem Acra?

I think this time she's a little bit sexy. She's a little flirtatious, and she knows fashion much more. She's much more savvy. She's become more fashionable, and she's going through the Internet and magazines and working hard to figure out what's out there for her.

What's your take on finishing details?

I love the three-dimensional aspect of this whole collection. Whether it's from the embroidery to the organza or even the hand-pleated appliqués, it's coming from the mind-set of ready-to-wear and couture. The organza, the headpieces, all the appliqués also give it the mind-set of a couture collection.