Reem Acra, a high-end bridal designer from New York City whose unique creations are favored by stars like Taylor Swift, is claiming damages of $38.7 million. This comes more than a decade after a nearby fire caused damage to over 2,000 dresses in her midtown studio.
A Manhattan judge ordered the troubled Chtrit Group, a real estate developer, to respond to a lawsuit that has been ongoing since March 2014 concerning a building they purchased and renovated.
Notable figures such as Beyoncé, actress Olivia Wilde, and former First Ladies Melania Trump and Jill Biden have all donned Acra’s designs. Her bridal gown prices range from about $2,500 to an impressive $110,000.
The fire created substantial smoke and soot, damaging Acra’s studio on the seventh floor and leading experts to declare the fabric and gowns as “a complete loss.”
Additionally, the designer reported losing invaluable ongoing projects, historical patterns, hundreds of new shoes, intricate handmade embroidery, and vintage dresses among other items.
In a court document filed on July 2, Acra stated that Joseph Chetrit, the founder of the Chetrit Group, failed to comply with the ruling and highlighted the pressing need for payments due to significant creditors and ongoing legal issues.
The Chetrit Group has not yet responded to requests for comments.
