Maha was born in Jaffa, Palestine. For generations her family members have worked as expert tailors, dressmakers, and clothing designers. At age eight she began sewing clothing for her dolls and her family members, designing each piece to fit the individual, without the use of patterns.
Maha spent her childhood in Baghdad, Iraq, later immigrating to the United States in the early 1980s. She earned several degrees in fashion merchandising and business management. From 1986 to 1996 she operated her own small custom clothing business called Maha's Couture. She quit to pursue her career in retail fashion merchandising, but has continued to design custom creations for family and friends. Her drive to develop her own unique line of haute couture continues with her latest endeavor, MAHAmoda.
Maha believes that clothing should be fresh and exude youthfulness and optimism. Her style envelops both Eastern and Western influences. She recalls the unique terrycloth wrappings around the bodies of the Bedouin women of Iraq, as well as the strong personal statements the women of Saudi Arabia made in the intricate details of their abayas. The aesthetic power of tribal Middle Eastern garments has always had an affect on Maha's designs. Her respect for her roots and immersion in her culture allow her to draw from this influence while avoiding the clichés of many contemporary western designers.
Maha is also a skilled and talented painter. Her European influences lie in her awe of artists such as Klimt and her admiration of the vivid brilliance of Van Gogh. In addition, Maha is most inspired by the methods of Coco Chanel, whose approach she finds closely matches her own. Like Chanel, Maha works extensively with models, designing and sewing each piece to fit the person who wears it.