N O R M A   K A M A L I   B I O G R A P H I C A L   T I M E   L I N E

1964: NORMA KAMALI GRADUATES FROM THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN NEW YORK WITH A BFA DEGREE IN FASHION ILLUSTRATION.
1968: OPENING OF KAMALI SHOP AT 229 EAST 53RD STREET IN NEW YORK. FIRST DESIGNS FEATURE ELABORATE APPLIQUES, LIZARD AND LEATHER PATCHES, SNAKESKINS AND TEE SHIRTS WITH RHINESTONE STUDS.
1969/70: MAGAZINE EDITORIALS, OF NORMA KAMALI ORIGINAL DESIGNS, HELP DEVELOP CONSUMER AWARENESS AND DEMAND FOR HER CREATIONS.
1974: KAMALI SHOP MOVES TO MADISON AVENUE. PARACHUTE CLOTHING DESIGNED FROM REAL SILK PARACHUTES
1975: FIRST SLEEPING BAG COAT DESIGNED.
1977: COSMOPOLITAN SWIMSUIT COVER BY FRANCESCO SCAVULLO ON CHRISTIE BRINKLEY FEATURES THE "PULL BIKINI" CREATING AN INTERNATIONAL DEMAND AND LAUNCHES NORMA KAMALI IN THE SWIMWEAR BUSINESS.
1978: OMO(ON MY OWN) NORMA KAMALI OPENS AT 6 WEST 56TH STREET.
ORIGINAL COSTUMES DESIGNED FOR THE EMERALD CITY IN SYDNEY LUMET'S FILM "THE WIZ."
DIANA VREELAND INCLUDES NORMA KAMALI PARACHUTE DESIGNS IN THE VANITY FAIR EXHIBIT AT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ART AND IS IN THE MUSEUM'S PERMANENT COLLECTION.
1980: DESIGNS A FASHION AT A PRICE COLLECTION FEATURING THE SWEATSHIRT COLLECTION AND SIGNS A LICENSING AGREEMENT TO MANUFACTURE THE LINE.
1981: NORMA KAMALI RECEIVES COTY AWARD FOR DESIGN INNOVATION.
1982: NORMA KAMALI RECEIVES COTY AWARD FOR WOMEN'S FASHION DESIGN.
SIGNS LICENSING AGREEMENT WITH RENOWN TO BEGIN DISTRIBUTION OF NORMA KAMALI DESIGNS IN JAPAN AND THE ORIENT.
1983: COTY HALL OF FAME AWARD.
CFDA AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING WOMEN'S FASHIONS FOR 1982.
ERNIE AWARDS (EARNSHAW REVIEW) FOR OUTSTANDING CHILDREN'S SPORTSWEAR DESIGN.
BEST FIVE TOKYO FASHION SHOW FROM WORLD CAPITALS AT THE INVITATION OF FAIRCHILD PUBLICATIONS.
OMO NORMA KAMALI OPENS AT 11 WEST 56ST STREET AS WORLD HEADQUARTERS FOR RETAIL STORE, DESIGN STUDIO, SHOWROOM AND ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES .
1984: "FALL FANTASY" VIDEO DIRECTED AND PRODUCED BY NORMA KAMALI PIONEERS AN IMPORTANT TREND IN FASHION MERCHANDISING.

FIDM AWARD FROM FASHION INSTITUTE OF DESIGN AND MERCHANDISING IN LOS ANGELES.

1985: CFDA AWARD FOR INNOVATIVE USE OF VIDEO IN PRESENTATION AND PROMOTION OF FASHION.
NORMA KAMALI DIRECTS "FASHION AID" VIDEO FOR NEW YORK HONORARY COMMITTEE DESIGNER IN A BENEFIT FOR LIVE AID FOUNDATION FUNDRAISER BY FASHION INDUSTRY.
RECEIVES 6TH ANNUAL INTERIORS AWARD FOR BEST RETAIL DESIGN FROM INTERIORS MAGAZINE.
LAUNCH OF THE NORMA KAMALI FRAGRANCE COLLECTION IN EXCLUSIVE DISTRIBUTION. THE FRAGRANCE IS CREATED IN TWO PARTS: PERFUME AND INCENSE, FORMULATED FOR BOTH MEN AND WOMEN. THE FRAGRANCES CAN BE APPLIED SEPARATELY OR LAYERED TOGETHER.
1986: NEW YORK FASHION GROUP HONOREE IN A SALUTE TO WOMEN WHO HAVE MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY.
RECIPIENT OF THREE BEST CATEGORY AWARDS AT FIRST ANNUAL VIDEO AWARDS AND A SPECIAL COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD FOR THE FASHION AID VIDEO.
  INTRODUCED VIDEO CATALOG.

DESIGNS COSTUMES FOR TWYLA THARP DANCE "IN THE UPPER ROOM".

RECEIVES DISTINGUISHED ARCHITECTURE AWARD FOR NEW YORK CHAPTER AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS FOR THE NORMA KAMALI BUILDING AT 11 WEST 56TH STREET IN NYC.

1987: NORMA KAMALI SIGNS AGREEMENT IN ITALY TO BEGIN EUROPEAN DISTRIBUTION OF HER DESIGNS.
UNIQUE LICENSING BETWEEN A DESIGNER AND DEPARTMENT STORE. BLOOMINGDALE'S AND NORMA KAMALI LAUNCH AN EXCLUSIVE COLLECTION AS PART OF A LICENSING AGREEMENT. AN INNOVATION IN RETAILING, THE STORE IS THE MANUFACTURER OF KAMALI'S EXCLUSIVE PRIVATE COLLECTION OF DESIGNER CLOTHING.
THE VIDEO " SWEET DREAMS," WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY NORMA KAMALI, WAS SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR THE BLOOMINGDALE'S COLLECTION LAUNCH.
1988: NORMA KAMALI HONORED BY THE PUBLIC EDUCATION ASSOCIATION OF NEW YORK AS OUTSTANDING GRADUATE. NORMA KAMALI IS A NATIVE NEW YORKER AND GRADUATED FROM THE WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL IN NYC.
GRANTED AWARD OF MERIT IN THE VIDEO CULTURE INTERNATIONAL VIDEO COMPETITION FOR " THE READING OF THE WILL," WRITTEN AND DIRECTED BY NORMA KAMALI.
NORMA PRODUCES A PHOTOMATIC CATALOG WITH THE USE OF STILL PHOTOS SHOT BY NORMA KAMALI OF THE SPRING 1989 COLLECTION IN CONEY ISLAND. THE VIDEO PHOTOMATIC PROVIDES AN ALBUM OF "POSTCARDS FROM CONEY ISLAND".

FIRST HOME COLLECTION OPENS INCLUDING FURNITURE, FABRICS AND HOME FRAGRANCE. OMO HOME KAMALI'S LAST ARCHITECTURAL VENTURE OF CREATING THE FACADE AND INTERIOR FOR THE NORMA KAMALI BUILDING, AT 11 WEST 56TH STREET, PROVIDED THE REAL BASE FOR FURTHER DESIGN EXPLORATION IN SHAPES AND FORMS FOR THE HOME AND IT'S FURNISHINGS.

1989: NORMA RECEIVES THE "AMERICAN SUCCESS AWARD" FOR VOCATIONAL TECHNICAL EDUCATION (FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY) PRESENTED BY PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH IN THE ROSE GARDEN AT THE WHITE HOUSE.

FIMAT - LE FETE INTERNATIONAL THE LARGEST INTERNATIONAL FASHION SHOW EVER PRESENTED IN TOKYO FEATURING WORLD FAMOUS DESIGNERS FROM FIVE FASHION CAPITALS.

NORMA KAMALI PRESENTED TWENTY FIVE WEDDING GOWNS.

1992: FIRST EYEWEAR COLLECTION.

WORLDWIDE DISTRIBUTION EXPANSION OF SWIMWEAR COLLECTION.
PIN UP ADVERTISING BILLBOARD CAMPAIGN AND
LAUNCH OF NEW LABEL 1 800 8 KAMALI.
1993:
INTRODUCTION OF OMO GYM ATHLETICWEAR COLLECTION. THE COLLECTION IS INSPIRED AND DESIGNED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF WOMEN'S ACTIVE LIFESTYLES IN THE 90'S.
1994: NORMA KAMALI LAUNCHES NORMA KAMALI BEAUTY, CREATED WITH A REVOLUTIONARY CONCEPT IN SKIN CARE AND COSMETICS. THE CONCEPT CONDITIONS AND ENHANCES THE SKIN TO REPLACE FOUNDATION. THE LINE IS LAUNCHED THROUGH DIRECT MARKETING WITH NORMA KAMALI BEAUTY PARTNERS.

1995: NORMA KAMALI HONORED AS THE 1995 COMMENCEMENT SPEAKER FOR THE FIFTIETH ANNIVERSARY OF THE FASHION INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY IN NEW YORK.
NORMA KAMALI LAUNCHES A MODERN COLLECTION OF ESSENTIAL PIECES IN POLY JERSEY TO CREATE A YEAR ROUND WARDROBE FOR ANY SITUATION AND ANY TIME OF DAY.
THE COLLECTION IS CONCISE AND PRACTICAL FOR TRAVEL, NO WRINKLING AND QUICK DRYING WHEN WASHED EITHER BY HAND OR MACHINE. AND THE NORMA KAMALI SACK BAG, MADE OF THE SAME FABRIC, CAN HOLD WEEKEND OUTFITS OR EVEN A FULL COLLECTION OF UP TO 20 FLAT, ROLLED PIECES.
1996:

NORMA KAMALI PRESENTS THE FALL 1996 COLLECTION AS A WORLDWIDE VIRTUAL REALITY EXPERIENCE THROUGH A SIMULTANEOUS BROADCAST EXHIBITION FOR THE INTERNET.

WWW.OMO-NORMA-KAMALI.COM
IS CREATED, FEATURING NORMA KAMALI'S COLLECTIONS ONLINE
NORMA KAMALI DESIGNS COSTUMES FOR TWYLA THARP'S NEW COMPANY ,THARP!, INCLUDING THE NEW PRODUCTIONS "SWEET FIELDS" AND "ROUTE 66."
1997: WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL INDUCTS ALUMNUS NORMA KAMALI IN THEIR HALL OF FAME HONORING DISTINGUISHED ALUMNI WHO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE ARTS.
NORMA KAMALI ORGANIZES STUDENTS OF WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL'S ART HOUSE, HER ALMA MATER, TO FORM A BUSINESS IN ORDER TO LEARN WHILE STILL IN SCHOOL THE IMPORTANCE OF ART AND COMMERCE AS A LIVELIHOOD WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL ENTERPRISES IS A BUSINESS FORMED BY THE STUDENTS OF THE ART HOUSE.
NORMA KAMALI RECEIVES THE "YOUTH FRIENDS AWARD" FOR OUTSTANDING PERSONAL ACHIEVEMENT AND INTEREST IN EDUCATION, PRESENTED ANNUALLY BY THE SCHOOL ART LEAGUE TO AN ARTIST THAT HAS CONTRIBUTED TO YOUNG ADULTS REALIZATION OF THEIR OWN POTENTIAL AS PROFESSIONAL VISUAL ARTISTS.
1998: DIRECT MARKETING THROUGH THE INTERNET. CLIENTS WORLDWIDE USE THE "SHOP LIKE A CELEBRITY" SERVICE, WHICH ENABLES THEM TO RECEIVE A BOX OF CLOTHES AT EITHER THEIR HOME OR OFFICE ON SPEC, AFTER PHOTOS, VIDEOS AND A PERSONAL SHOPPER ASSISTS IN THE SELECTION.

THE 1.800.8.KAMALI COLLECTION, POLY JERSEY, BEAUTY, FRAGRANCE, ACTIVE WEAR, SUITS, DRESSES AND SWIMWEAR ARE ALL AVAILABLE THROUGH THE INTERNET. CLIENTS CAN FILL OUT A CUSTOMER PROFILE ONLINE OR E-MAIL OMO FOR A QUICK RESPONSE.
1999:

WWW.NORMAKAMALICOLLECTION.COM
EXPANDS ITS SERVICE, OPPORTUNITIES AND INFORMATION.

WWW.NYCPUBLICSCHOOLART4U2C.COM
IS SET UP BY NORMA KAMALI FOR THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS TO EXHIBIT STUDENTS' ARTWORK, FASHION AND POETRY.

NORMA KAMALI RECEIVES THE 1999 PENCIL AWARD FOR EXTRAORDINARY COMMITMENT TO NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOL EDUCATION.

THE LOWER EAST SIDE GIRLS' CLUB PRESENTS NORMA WITH THE WILLOW AWARD, CELEBRATING THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF WOMEN.

THE NORMA KAMALI "LIVING RUBBER" COLLECTION IS INTRODUCED. A MOOD RING CRYSTAL COATED FABRIC THAT CHANGES COLORS, LIVING RUBBER INTRODUCES A NEW TECHNOLOGY THAT PROMOTES INVENTION IN FASHION.

NORMA KAMALI RECEIVES THE FASHION OUTREACH STYLE AWARD FOR CONTINUED WORK IN DESIGN INNOVATION AS WELL AS WORK WITH NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.

2000: WWW.NORMAKAMALICOLLECTION.COM
HAS EVOLVED INTO A NORMA KAMALI WEBSITE DIRECTORY, A GUIDE THROUGH ALL SEVEN NORMA KAMALI LINKED SITES. INFORMATION ON THE BEAUTY AND FRAGRANCE LINES, AS WELL AS A BIOGRAPHY, HOW TO "SHOP LIKE A CELEBRITY," THE CLIENT PROFILE FORM, PRESS CLIPPINGS AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES. YOU CAN E-MAIL NORMA KAMALI DIRECTLY FOR A PERSONAL RESPONSE.

CHARMEUSE
PARACHUTE
SUITING

SLEEPING BAG COAT
LEATHER

THIS SITE CATALOGS THE DESIGNER COLLECTION, FROM SPECIAL GROUPS TO ONE OF A KIND ITEMS.

IT'S A GREAT PLACE TO ORDER A WEDDING GOWN, AND " SHOP LIKE A CELEBRITY" IS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO BRING THE GOWN HOME, ON APPROVAL, FOR 48 HOURS TO TRY ON FOR YOUR FRIENDS BEFORE YOU BUY IT.


WWW.NORMAKAMALISWIMWEAR.COM

NORMA KAMALI IS KNOWN AS AN INNOVATOR IN THE SWIMWEAR INDUSTRY. HER EXTENSIVE SWIM LINE IS CATALOGUED ALONG WITH PRESS CLIPPINGS, AND THE GUIDE "HOW TO CHOOSE A SWIMSUIT," WRITTEN BY NORMA KAMALI, TO HELP CLIENTS FIND THE BEST SWIMSUIT.


THE BEST PLACE TO TRY SWIMSUITS IS AT HOME, ALONE, AND THERE ARE ALSO INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW CLIENTS CAN DO THIS THROUGH THE "SHOP LIKE A CELEBRITY" SERVICE.

AFTER 48 HOURS, THE CLIENT IS CHARGED ONLY FOR WHAT SHE KEEPS. FED EX PICKS UP THE RETURNED ITEMS.

WWW.NORMAKAMALIJERSEY.COM
THE ENTIRE NK JERSEY LINE IS CATALOGUED WITH PRESS CLIPPINGS. NEW STYLES ARE ADDED EVERY MONTH AND THE COLOR SCHEME CHANGES EVERY THREE MONTHS.

THE NK JERSEY COLLECTION IS COMPRISED OF ESSENTIALS, CAREER,EVENING, SWIMWEAR, ACTIVE SPORTSWEAR, SLEEP WEAR AND WEEKEND. THERE IS A CULT LIKE FOLLOWING WHICH GROWS EACH YEAR.

WWW.NORMAKAMALIACTIVE.COM
NORMA KAMALI'S ACTIVE SPORTSWEAR LINE HAS COUNTLESS OPTIONS.

THE SITE OFFERS UNIQUE NEW TAKES ON ACTIVE WITH THE BEST QUALITY FABRICS
AND CONSTRUCTION, FROM WORKOUT BRAS TO CATSUITS TO GYM GOWNS.

WWW.NORMAKAMALIEYEWEAR.COM

VISITORS CAN BROWSE THROUGH AVAILABLE STYLES AND FIND THE STORE NEAR THEM
WHERE THEY ARE SOLD.

RETAILERS CAN FIND INFORMATION ON HOW TO STOCK THEIR STORES
WITH THESE UNIQUE FRAMES.

MEN CAN USE THE ON APPROVAL SERVICE. WE OVERNIGHT YOUR SELECTION AND ONLY PAY FOR WHAT YOU KEEP. SHOP AT HOME. NO HASSLES FOR ME WHO LIKE CLOTHES BUT NOT THE SHOPPING EXPERIENCE.

WWW.NORMAKAMALIVINTAGE.COM
NORMA KAMALI'S CAREER SPANS SEVERAL DECADES AND NK VINTAGE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION TO DOCUMENT ON LINE PRESS PHOTOS, VIDEOTAPES, LOOKBOOKS AND NORMA KAMALI'S COMMENTS ABOUT SIGNIFICANT INFLUENCES AT EACH TIME.

2001: NORMA KAMALI WAS HONORED WITH MANY REFERENCES TO HER DESIGNS THAT INSPIRED OTHER DESIGNERS COLLECTIONS THIS YEAR. IN FACT THE METROPOLITAN MUSEUM OF ARTS EXHIBIT, "EXTREME BEAUTY", FEATURED HER PATENTED HIGH HEELED SNEAKER NEXT TO A NEW VERSION FEATURED IN CURRENT COLLECTIONS.
 


THE MANHATTAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESENTED NORMA KAMALI WITH THE 2001 BUSINESS OUTREACH AWARD FOR HER WORK WITH THE NEW YORK CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS.
 

NORMA KAMALI CREATED AN AUTHENTIC STATE-OF-THE-ART DESIGN ROOM AT WASHINGTON IRVING HIGH SCHOOL. EVERY OTHER WEEK SHE TEACHES THE SCHOOL’S FIRST FASHION DESIGN CLASS IN THAT ROOM. ROOM 741 WAS NORMA’S HOME ROOM CLASS WHEN SHE WAS A STUDENT IN THE SCHOOL. IT WAS TOTALLY GUTTED AND RENOVATED TO AN ALL WHITE DESIGN LAB WHERE THE STUDENTS LISTEN TO CLASSICAL MUSIC AS THEY WORK AND WEAR LAB COATS IN THE DESIGN ROOM.
2002:

NORMA KAMALI RECEIVED THE 2002 ENTREPRENEUR AWARD BY THE FASHION GROUP

THE WOMAN’S HISTORY MONTH AWARD WAS PRESENTED BY THE NEW YORK CITY COMPTROLLERS OFFICE TO NORMA KAMALI IN MARCH.

NORMA KAMALI SIGNED TO WRITE A BOOK WITH SCHOLASTIC ON ”HOW TO BE A DESIGNER” FOR STUDENTS OF FASHION DESIGN.

THE FASHION CENTER BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT INDUCTED NORMA KAMALI INTO ITS 2002 FASHION WALK OF FAME. NORMA WAS HONORED, ALONG WITH SEVEN OTHER DESIGNERS, FOR HER ACHIEVEMENT IN DESIGN IN THE FASHION INDUSTRY. PLAQUES ARE LOCATED ON THE SIDEWALK OF SEVENTH AVENUE BETWEEN WEST 34TH AND 41ST STREETS.

NORMA'S PLAQUE READS AS FOLLOWS: "A SPIRIT OF EXPERIMENTATION IS CENTRAL TO THE WORK OF NORMA KAMALI. SHE FIRST BECAME FAMOUS IN 1980 FOR DESIGNING SEPARATES MADE FROM SWEATSHIRT MATERIAL. ANOTHER INNOVATION WAS HER USE OF PARACHUTE SILK TO MAKE JUMPSUITS. PERHAPS BEST KNOWN FOR HER MUCH IMITATED "SLEEPING BAG COAT," KAMALI ALSO BECAME THE ULTIMATE SWIMWEAR DESIGNER BY INFUSING HER WORK WITH HOLLYWOOD-STYLE GLAMOUR."

 
2003:

THE NORMA KAMALI HEADQUARTERS WAS RENOVATED TO CREATE A NEW RETAIL STYLE ENVIRONMENT AND A NEW PHILOSOPHY.

THE NEW WELLNESS COLLECTION IS A LIFESTYLE CONCEPT OF PERSONAL CARE, GOURMET AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.


BARXV IS THE SPACE WHERE IT IS PRESENTED. EVERYTHING IS WHITE WITH GLOWING WHITE LIGHT THROUGHOUT AND THE SOUND OF WAVES, CHILDREN GIGGLING AND MELODIC RHYTHMS FILL THE HEAVENLY ATMOSPHERE. DETOX FROM OVER STIMULATION WHILE EXPERIENCING BEAUTIFUL SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO MODERN DAY GROOMING FROM THOUSAND YEAR OLD HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES AND GRANDMA RECIPES. THE SCENTS ARE UNCOMPLICATED SINGLE NOTE AROMAS THAT ENHANCE RELAX AND ENERGIZE WITH THERAPEUTIC RESULTS.

 

2004:

THE NORMA KAMALI HEADQUARTERS AT 11 WEST 56 STREET WAS RENOVATED TO CREATE A NEW RETAIL STYLE ENVIRONMENT AND A NEW PHILOSOPHY.

NORMA KAMALI DESIGNED THE SPACE AND PRESENTS HER NEW WELLNESS COLLECTION, A LIFESTYLE CONCEPT OF PERSONAL CARE, GOURMET AND WELLNESS PRODUCTS FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY.

BARXV IS THE NAME OF THE SPACE WHERE IT IS PRESENTED. EVERYTHING IS WHITE WITH GLOWING WHITE LIGHT THROUGHOUT AND THE SOUND OF WAVES, CHILDREN GIGGLING AND MELODIC RHYTHMS FILL THE HEAVENLY ATMOSPHERE.

DE STRESS WHILE EXPERIENCING BEAUTIFUL SIMPLE SOLUTIONS TO MODERN DAY GROOMING FROM THOUSAND YEAR OLD HOMEOPATHIC REMEDIES AND GRANDMA RECIPES.

TASTE FRAGRANT GOURMET SPECIALTIES CREATED FROM SCENTS THAT ARE UNCOMPLICATED SINGLE NOTE AROMAS THAT ENHANCE RELAX AND ENERGIZE WITH THERAPEUTIC RESULTS.

THE RETAIL SPACE FOR CLOTHING IS FREE OF CLOTHING RACKS AND IS AN OPEN SPACE OF HANGING MANNEQUINS DISPLAYING THE FULL NORMA KAMALI CLOTHING COLLECTIONS AND CONTAINERS THAT HOLD THE SWIMWEAR AND THE PACK ABLES COLLECTIONS ARE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT THE SPACE.

WELLNESS NIGHTS OFFER RESTORATIVE YOGA, TAI CHI, PILATES AND GYROKINESIS MONDAYS TO THURSDAYS FROM 6:30-8:00 PM INTERACT IN THE SPACE. TASTE SAMPLE THE WELLNESS COLLECTION AND RELAX.
2005:

NORMA KAMALI IS ONE OF CFDA'S HONOREE TO RECEIVE THE BOARD OF DIRECTOR'S SPECIAL TRIBUTE AWARD.

NORMA KAMALI HAS COME UP WITH SO MANY DESIGNS THAT SHE CAN ONLY BE DESCRIBED AS A GREAT AMERICAN PIONEER IN FASHION. WILE HER AESTHETIC HAS ALWAYS BEEN GROUNDED IN SOPHISTICATION, IT'S ALSO BASED ON THE UNORTHODOX JUXTAPOSITIONS OF TECHNIQUE AND MATERIAL. SHE HAS TRANSFORMED RECYCLED ARMY SURPLUS PARACHUTE SILK AND DOWN SLEEPING BAG INTO COCOONS OF FEMINITY. SHE REINVIGORATED THE WHOLE IDEA OF GLAMOUR, UPDATING ADRIAN'S PEPLUM SUIT AND SHOULDER PADS FOR HER CLIENTS AND FANS, AND IN THE PROCESS IGNITED THE RAGE FOR VINTAGE. SHE WAS THE FIRST TO RECREATE THE GLAMOUROUS SWIMSUIT, WHICH HAS REMAINED SO INFLUENTIAL IN THE MARKETPLACE. THE WAY COCO CHANEL TOOK MEN'S UNDERWEAR JERSEY AND MADE IT A STAPLE FOR WOMEN, KAMALI MADE INDUSTRIAL GRADE GYM SWEATSHIRT FABRICS INTO A GROUND-BREAKING COLLECTION IN 1980 THAT PRACTICALLY LAUNCHED THE LEISUREWEAR REVOLUTION. AND THERE IS NO IMAGE MORE MEMORABLE THAN RAQUEL WELCH IN A GREAT KAMALI SIREN DRESS, OR PALOMA PICASSO IN A KAMALI SUIT. MANY OF HER SHAPES OF THE PAST THREE DECADES REMAIN SO CONTEMPORARY, AND AT THE SAME TIME, SO TIMELESS, THAT SHE STILL SELLS THEM IN HER SHOP. AND YOU SEE HER SLEEPING BAG COATS, WHICH WERE A UNIFORM IN THE '70S, ON THE STREETS EVERY WINTER.
SHE'S ALWAYS BEEN AN INDEPENDENT, IN BOTH FASHION AND IN RETAILING. HER FIRST SHOP ON EAST 53RD STREET FEATURED LIZARD AND LEATHER, THEN SHE MOVED IT TO MADISON AVENUE IN 1974, AND STARTED ATTRACTING SOCIETY GIRLS. FOUR YEARS LATER, SHE BROUGHT CUTTING-EDGE STYLE TO SHOPPING WITH THE LAUNCH OF OMO. AND SHE WAS ONE OF THE FIRST DESIGNERS TO SELL FASHION ON THE INTERNET. IN HER WAY OF THINKING AND IN HER WORK ALWAYS THERE IS A STREAK OF SOMETHING IMAGINATIVE AND QUITE REMARKABLE. SHE DOESN'T LOOK TO ANYONE, AND SHE IMITATES NO ONE BUT HERSELF. IT'S ALWAYS ABOUT HER STYLE. TO ME, SHE IS AMERICA'S ELSA SCHIAPARELLI.
BY ANDRE LEON TALLEY

NORMA KAMALI AND EVERLAST PRESENT A CONTEMPORARY SPORTSWEAR COLLECTION STARTING SPRING 2006.
SHE IS WELL KNOWN FOR HER SWEATS FROM THE 80’S AND THE UPDATED VERSION OF THIS COLLECTION WILL CARRY FORWARD THIS TIMELESS CONCEPT.