How I Built This with Guy Raz

Norma Kamali: Norma Kamali

Feb 1, 2021

Norma Kamali, an iconic fashion designer, began her journey in the 1960s when she unexpectedly shifted from airline clerk to fashion visionary. She shares tales of her early trips to London that sparked her design passion and how her sleeping bag coat became a trendsetter. From dressing celebrities to navigating personal challenges, Norma highlights the evolution of fashion and the importance of community support. She also emphasizes embracing aging in style and the emotional stories behind her designs, showcasing her indelible mark on the industry.

01:30:05

Episode guests

Norma Kamali

AI Chapters

Episode notes

Intro

2min

The Enduring Legacy of American Fashion Design

5min

Artistry and Adventures in the 1960s

14min

From Dance Floors to Fashion Empires

13min

Royals, Crimes, and Fashion Evolution

5min

The Fashion Revolution of the 1960s

9min

The Evolution of the Sleeping Bag Coat

12min

Reinventing Through Adversity

4min

Embracing Vulnerability and Community Support

5min

10.

The Evolution of a Fashion Visionary

17min

11.

Embracing Aging and Fashion's Evolution

8min

12.

A Journey Through Fashion: The Stories Clothes Tell

3min

When Norma Kamali studied fashion illustration in the 1960s, she never expected to become a designer. So when a job as an airline clerk came along, she was glad to accept it—along with the perk of dirt-cheap flights from New York to London. On those weekend trips abroad, she discovered fashion that was exuberant and eye-catching, so she started loading her suitcase with clothing to sell in the U.S. By the 1970s, she was designing her own pieces out of a shop in New York; soon she was selling them to celebrities like Cher and Bette Midler. Today, after more than 50 years in the fashion industry, Norma Kamali is known for iconic designs like the sleeping bag coat, and the bold red bathing suit popularized by Farah Fawcett.

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