The Norma Kamali Bio Chron
2020’s
Celebs in NK
Sarah Jessica Parker, Kylie Jenner, Miley Cyrus, Heidi Klum, Laverne Cox, Lizzo, Gwen Stefani, Tracee Ellis Ross, Megan Thee Stallion, and Gabrielle Union.
Bridal Collection
Designed for E-commerce shopping available in white, black, and red for weddings, special occasions, to red carpet events. Easy fit and less expensive than the down payment on a house.
The Sleeping Bag Coat
Featured in three museums simultaneously and the inspiration for many collections.
Covid Collection
At home easy clothing (Day Pajamas).
Soft Furniture
NORMALIFE Expands to the indoor/ outdoor easy care furniture collection.
Norma Launches I Am Invincible
A handbook for women on healthy lifestyle, business, and Aging With Power.
2010’s
Celebs in NK
Rihanna, Mariah Carey, Fergie, Chrissy Teigen, Nicki Minaj, Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Rita Ora, Ashley Graham, Kim, Khloe, and Kourtney Kardasian.
Produces the film Hey Baby
Confronting the Objectification Of Women to follow her radio show on SIRIUS XM of the same name.
Empower Women in Afghanistan
Designs a line of carpets called Weaving For A Brighter Future.
Co-writes a book Facing East
With Dr Jingduan Yang on acupuncture and eastern ancient methods for health and wellness.
Norma Launches a Scent
That interacts with your body to restore, calm and help balance throughout the day and night.
NORMALIFE Skin Line Collection
Launches a Democratic and Inclusive Skin Line for all gender ages, and skin types for face and body including the hashtag #gobaredontcare under the NORMALIFE collection.
Gender Fluid Collection
Norma brings back styles and photographs the collection.
Lifetime Achievement Award
From the CFDA.
Launches Podcast/ Radio Show
2000’s
Celebs in NK
Shakira, Jennifer Lopez, Christina Aguilera, Beyonce/ Destiny’s Child, P!nk, Ciara and Chloe Sevigny.
Creates the Living Rubber Collection
That changes color as a mood ring crystal would
New Technology and Invention in Fashion
Shift and transitions the company from retail dept store business to E-Commerce accounts and platforms.
Walmart collaboration
In-store and online top-selling women’s brand online core styles at an affordable price. Uses technology where a fashion game The Closet can be created and the sum total of The Closet at affordable prices becomes an experience people who never shopped in a Walmart were enjoying.
The Wellness Cafe Opens
Committed to a healthy lifestyle speakers, event classes, tea talks all happen at the Norma Kamali headquarters at 11 West 56 Street.
CFDA Board Of Directors Special Tribute Award
Presented to Norma Kamali.
1990’s
Celebs in NK
Cindy Crawford, Carla Bruni, Naomi Campbell, Claudia Schiffer, Helena Christensen, Courtney Love, and Eva Herzigova.
American Success Award
Presented in The Rose Garden of the White House By President George Bush.
Awards for working with Public High School Students
The Lower East Side Girls Club receives the Willow Award, Youth Friends Award, Washington Irving HS Hall of Fame For Distinguished Alumni, Fashion Outreach Style Award For Design Innovation for Working With The NYC Public Schools.
Technology and Fashion
Using QR codes and AR and VR in the New In Store Shopping Experience.
The Democracy Of Fashion
Norma Kamali ecom website introduces Try Before You Buy at the Soho Apple Store.
First No Makeup Skin Care Routine
With a video cassette in the skin kit distributed through Bloomingdales kiosks, and their catalogue. NK created a direct marketing package and produced and directed A How-To Video.
OMOGYM
Fashion show presenting 50 athletes in Norma’s athletic collection in the very first season of the tent shows in NYC.
1980’s
Celebs in NK
Madonna, Diana Ross, Iman, Brooke Shields, Joan Jett, Carly Simon, Darryl Hannah, Patti Hansen, Elle Macpherson, Paulina Porizkova, and Isabella Rossellini.
Designs New Headquarters
Wins Interiors Design Award.
Wins CFDA and Several Film Awards
Creates a series of films showing her collections instead of fashion shows.
Wins 6 Industry Awards for Innovation and Design
Including children’s clothing.
Twyla Tharp Legendary In The Upper Room Costumes
Norma launches Innovative Scent of two parts
One the feminine floral and the other the masculine incense therefore personalizing the scent because different blends can be created daily.
High Heeled Sneakers Patented
Sweats Collection
The first casual collection of RTW influencing lifestyle by introducing athleisure and active sportswear into this new idea of style, a strong contrast to the glitter and shine of the disco wave and Studio54 of the late 70’s.
OMONORMAKAMALI
Norma goes on her own and creates her own brand with $98. She decided to break from her marriage and her company.
1970’s
Celebs in NK
Cher, Farrah Fawcett, Donna Summer, Bette Midler, Bianca Jagger, Grace Jones, Raquel Welch, Diana Ross, and Angelica Huston.
Gender Fluid Collection
Organically begins as all genders wear her collection including The New York Dolls.
Costumes for The Emerald City Segment of Sidney Lumets The Wiz Film
Swimwear Innovations
Swimwear with super high legs, swimwear as body suits, swimwear in new technology fabrics with lycras being developed for the first time in history. Revolutionary swimsuit is on the Cosmo cover and launches NK first wholesale collection.
Norma Designs Vintage of the Future Designs
A lover of vintage wants her clothes to be worn 20, 30, 40 years after they are designed...
Parachute Clothing
Styles made from actual parachutes.
Sleeping Bag Coat
Made from her very own sleeping bag and thinks of the idea on a cold night camping trip.
1967’s
Kamali Opens
At 229 East 53 Street
NORMA KAMALI celebrates her 55th year as the sole owner of her business. Reinventing decade after decade while maintaining her authentic timeless, unique approach to fashion, health and beauty has been her formula for living her dream of a creative life. Her book I AM INVINCIBLE, released in 2020, is a handbook for women documenting her experiences through the decades and emphasizing Aging with Power through a healthy lifestyle.
An early adapter of technology and fashion, in 1995 Norma created a website. She created -the first in the industry- “try before you buy” for clients by sending photos and with her customer service team implemented this opportunity for clients not near a retail outlet. Her dream came true when her website and eBay became the platform for clients to see offerings and updates and take advantage of “try before you buy”. As a result of a collaboration with Walmart, the success of her brand on their e-commerce site in 2007, inspired her to transition her company from department stores to e-commerce platforms.
This belt tightening experiment paid off year after year. During Covid with the years of ecom experience and an e-commerce network of accounts in place her brand was ready to address the challenges of Covid. The company regrouped zooming and restructuring, planning and production, and new methods of presenting the collection.
Norma’s innovations include the sleeping bag coat made from her actual sleeping bag, her sweats collection, which initiated what has become casual lifestyle dressing which we continue to enjoy today, and her patented high heeled sneakers. Her sculptural swimwear continues to influence the swimwear marketplace globally. Norma’s iconic parachute collection made from actual parachutes, and the vintage of the future multistyle designed in the 70’s have been reimagined and are part of the collection each season.
Norma’s timeless style, and her belief that clothing should be practical and smart, while at the same time be fun to wear and make you feel good continue to define her brand resilient longevity.