Norma Kamali

And from that, I said, lesson learned is you have to talk to people in order for people to help you. And so I started to reach out and I was amazed at how many people wanted to help me and they did. And so I borrowed money and I paid everybody back. even when we didn't make that much money, I opened a store and we didn't make that much money. I would give them a little bit.

And from that, I said, lesson learned is you have to talk to people in order for people to help you. And so I started to reach out and I was amazed at how many people wanted to help me and they did. And so I borrowed money and I paid everybody back. even when we didn't make that much money, I opened a store and we didn't make that much money. I would give them a little bit.

I remember envelopes, money, sending people letters. Thank you very much. Each week sending something. If I couldn't send something for the week, I would send a note saying, I apologize. And I'm embarrassed that I can't send you something this week, but I would send the note. And I, Remember when I paid everyone, that moment was extraordinary. It was wow.

I remember envelopes, money, sending people letters. Thank you very much. Each week sending something. If I couldn't send something for the week, I would send a note saying, I apologize. And I'm embarrassed that I can't send you something this week, but I would send the note. And I, Remember when I paid everyone, that moment was extraordinary. It was wow.

I'm really free and I'm actually making money and I can buy fabric and I can make these decisions myself. How long did that take Norma? It actually didn't take that long because I got a tremendous amount of publicity going out on my own. And I used, if I was going to use the name Norma Kamali, I had to change it in some way. So I used OMO Norma Kamali on my own, Norma Kamali.

I'm really free and I'm actually making money and I can buy fabric and I can make these decisions myself. How long did that take Norma? It actually didn't take that long because I got a tremendous amount of publicity going out on my own. And I used, if I was going to use the name Norma Kamali, I had to change it in some way. So I used OMO Norma Kamali on my own, Norma Kamali.

And there were so many articles. And it was a time when women were seeking this freedom, this independence. And the letters I received from women across the country saying, what you've done inspired me. I'm going to do it too. I can do that. And I realized it was that moment in time where my story was very similar. And it was around the same time Cher and Sonny broke up.

And there were so many articles. And it was a time when women were seeking this freedom, this independence. And the letters I received from women across the country saying, what you've done inspired me. I'm going to do it too. I can do that. And I realized it was that moment in time where my story was very similar. And it was around the same time Cher and Sonny broke up.

And Cher was a customer of mine. And she... I have a telegram. I still have a telegram from her congratulating me for leaving Eddie. And it was her experience, too, at that time. So... I think wherever women saw that this could happen, that you could actually do something without a man being in control of it, was very inspiring for women.

And Cher was a customer of mine. And she... I have a telegram. I still have a telegram from her congratulating me for leaving Eddie. And it was her experience, too, at that time. So... I think wherever women saw that this could happen, that you could actually do something without a man being in control of it, was very inspiring for women.

It actually started the first week we were in business in the basement. I have no real idea why. It was famous men and women. And at the time, they didn't have stylists shopping for them. Everybody shopped for themselves. And so I got to meet a lot of these people who... were looking to create their own style. Don't forget, the 70s, nobody was styling Jimi Hendrix.

It actually started the first week we were in business in the basement. I have no real idea why. It was famous men and women. And at the time, they didn't have stylists shopping for them. Everybody shopped for themselves. And so I got to meet a lot of these people who... were looking to create their own style. Don't forget, the 70s, nobody was styling Jimi Hendrix.

Nobody was styling Cher, other than her costumes for her show. She was styling herself. Bianca Jagger, styling herself. Everybody was. And I had these great customers. I mean, I remember...

Nobody was styling Cher, other than her costumes for her show. She was styling herself. Bianca Jagger, styling herself. Everybody was. And I had these great customers. I mean, I remember...

making every color feather jacket you could imagine for Sly from Sly and the Family Stone, if anybody remembers who he is, and making clothes for all of these great people who were famous and doing great things. And I've never given free clothes to anybody to wear my clothes. And so if people want them, they're obviously buying them and paying for them.

making every color feather jacket you could imagine for Sly from Sly and the Family Stone, if anybody remembers who he is, and making clothes for all of these great people who were famous and doing great things. And I've never given free clothes to anybody to wear my clothes. And so if people want them, they're obviously buying them and paying for them.

So I have no real understanding of why that is and why it still continues. But I'm very complimented by it. But I'm also complimented by seeing social media, by the way, offers a great... opportunity for designers. And for me, we have a hashtag, NKMyWay, and my customers around the world are the coolest women who style themselves in the most amazing ways.

So I have no real understanding of why that is and why it still continues. But I'm very complimented by it. But I'm also complimented by seeing social media, by the way, offers a great... opportunity for designers. And for me, we have a hashtag, NKMyWay, and my customers around the world are the coolest women who style themselves in the most amazing ways.

They take amazing photographs that they are in countries that you would never expect. or they're traveling to countries, and we are in awe of what we see. And that is the biggest compliment of all. And so I love that celebrities of the time, of the moment, are wearing my clothes. And it keeps going generationally. Sabrina Carpenter is wearing my clothes. It's an interesting phenomena, right?

They take amazing photographs that they are in countries that you would never expect. or they're traveling to countries, and we are in awe of what we see. And that is the biggest compliment of all. And so I love that celebrities of the time, of the moment, are wearing my clothes. And it keeps going generationally. Sabrina Carpenter is wearing my clothes. It's an interesting phenomena, right?