A STIFF DRINK WITH CHERRY BOMB’ PRESENTED BY GLENLIVET

Legendary New York Fashion designer NORMA KAMALI sat down with Kerry Diamond, founder of Cherry Bomb, a media company of women and food, for an intriguing `Conversation’ at Spring Studios Sunken Living Room, during New York Fashion Week “The Talks” series. Known for her famous Sleeping bag bubble coat, innovative swimwear, the Parachute jumpsuit and a long-standing store on West 56th Street, off Fifth Avenue in New York City, Norma is a talented American designer who has been in the business for some 53 years. Large golden flags flutter on the facade of her store which is a fixture among global fashionistas. Norma Kamali’s clothes have been worn by celebrities like; Cher, Bette Midler, Priyanka Chopra, Christie Brinkley, Bianca Jagger, Miley Cyrus, Gwen Stefani, Yoko Ono, Raquel Welch and Farrah Faucett among them. She created the yellow dress worn by Beyonce’ in the video for `The Lion King’ movie and created costumes for the legendary 1978 movie `The Wiz.’ Norma was honored with the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.

FITNESS GURU

Hailed as one of the original wellness guru’s by the Daily Mail, Norma is also a huge advocate of health and fitness. She began this part of her journey when two of her best friends died of AIDS in the 1970s. “I began seeking information about how to build a strong immune system through healthy lifestyles.” Norma opened a wellness Cafe’ at the back of her store serving vegetable juices and green teas. She also sells olive oil and tooth soap toothpaste in block forms, made without chemicals.  

RELEVANCE & STARTING THE BUSINESS

Kerry Diamond opened the informative Q&A by asking Norma: “What do you attribute to your still being relevant? “Earlier on, one of the wisest things I learned was that you have to be your authentic self, no matter what else is happening. I did decide that I wanted to have a creative life by having that commitment. Stand behind your authentic self and you would survive, appreciate people, everybody is not going to like what you do, but those close to you will be there with you,” answered the designer. Kerry asked `When did you know you wanted to be a designer?’  Norma replied: “I always wanted to be a painter. I went to FIT on a painting scholarship and a scholarship for fashion illustration. My mother said; `I think you have to learn how to type, cause this art stuff is not going to get you anywhere,’ and I said to my mother `I will never learn how to type.’ I got a job with Northwest Airlines in the sales office and took advantage of the $29 employes roundtrip to London. For four years, every weekend, I’d travel to London, where the street fashion provided inspiration and I felt it within my soul – This is what I wanted to do. I bought clothes and brought them back to New York and sold them…I rented an apartment for $285 a month, I began making clothes and started a business in 1967.”

FIT MEMORIES

Asked about jobs for women in fashion back then in the late 1960s, Norma explained: “FIT was one building, every girl dressed like they were going to a fashion show. A good part of the population at FIT were girls who loved clothes. It was not about brands, it was about European fashion – that was the center of the Universe. It was not until Yves Saint Laurent became a brand that American fashion designers came on the scene and made brands. It still wasn’t a time where women worked…Calvin Klein, Ralph Lauren and of course Halston came up as the US fashion scene with John Fairchild and Women’s Wear Daily pushing them. It was the seventy’s and early eighty’s and I wanted nothing of this fashion. I was so out of place, I didn’t understand. So much of it was about my personality. Nobody wore a mini skirt until London, no girdles and garter belts…..There were very few women back then that had their own businesses, but for fashion, it was my personal adventure.” 

WOMEN IN BUSINESS – THEN AND NOW

Norma expressed her views about the new media and female designers; “As much as I love the sixty’s it’s now such an extraordinary time. I’m so happy to be here now because we can communicate with one another and people around the world..I am a feminist. I never felt that men had the upper hand, I was very lucky. I got recognition, probably more than I deserved. I never felt that men had a priority over my vision and goals, it wasn’t the creative part of it, but just being a businesswoman in a man’s world.” Norma elaborated: “There are so many women designers who are doing incredible things now because it comes from the female spirit. I, as a woman, understands a woman’s psyche. My clothes say it and women connect to it, others say; `I could never wear your clothes.’ and I’d say `That’s OK.’ Being the richest or the most famous woman designer in the world was never my priority. I don’t know that bigger is better. I want my creative life, I want to have a good life.”         

OWNERSHIP AND THE HARD TIMES

On the subject of investors and ownership, Norma feels very strongly about owning her business. “I’ve had opportunities to have investors, but the voice in my mind kept saying `You want a creative life.’ I still own my company for 53 years…OMO on my label means `On My Own.’ My heart hurts for them that sold their name and soul.” Reflecting on some personal areas in her life, Norma revealed: “I got married at 17, so smart? NO! When I was bringing clothes from London, ten years later it was very hard, I had $98 in my name, I had to leave (the marriage) to save my soul, I had an apartment with a mattress. I learned that I had to tell my story. I needed to re-create, so OMO was my brand and people gave me sewing machines.” Norma told the story of meeting a magazine editor for an interview and the editor looked at her and exclaimed “What happened to you?” and Norma broke down in tears, telling her story. “She got me sewing machines and help. I’m very good at calling people up, if it’s someone I can help, it’s my turn because people helped me. I eventually got a really good lawyer and a really good accountant and that helped me as they were super helpful.” 

NORMA’S ADVICE

With years of experience, Norma obviously has a wealth of knowledge and advice to stay afloat in the business of fashion – “You have to get ready to fall and know how to get up quickly. People see your talent and they take advantage. You have to hold your ground don’t matter how desperate you are to show your talent. You have to keep one thing in mind, keep the passion and it’ll come. You have to walk away when it’s not right, there will be a time when you can show your talent. You’ll never be sorry when you walk away – it’s an option you’ll have.”

HOW TO RECHARGE

As the `Conversation’ came to a close, Kerry asked Norma how does she re-charge. with her ever-present mega-watt smile, Norma responded: “I am like the energizer bunny, I’m very into restoring, meditation and sleep, sleep, sleep! It’s so important. With the stress we’re in now, I’ll strongly recommend it. Sleep and restoring are very important. I work out every day. If there’s a dance party I’m there, I love to dance. My body at 74, I don’t feel any pain, working out is very critical. I’m feeling good, I don’t feel any aches in my body.”

FUTURE SHOCK

What’s in the immediate future for this incredibly talented New York designer? “I am writing a book about healthy lifestyles and aging with power, coming out in early 2021. We had to push it back to after the elections.” Norma is also launching her own skincare line all from natural ingredients like charcoal, cacao, jojoba, and aloe, consisting of cleansers, exfoliant, moisturizer, and self-tanner.