Norma Kamali (November 2024)

Norma Kamali Inc. was founded in 1967 when Norma Kamali opened a small boutique in a nine-by-ten-foot basement space in New York City. Armed with a degree in fashion illustration from the Fashion Institute of Technology and experience buying vintage clothing in London, Kamali began designing original pieces that departed sharply from the trends of the late 1960s.

The brand's defining moment arrived in the mid-1970s when Kamali created the Sleeping Bag Coat from an actual sleeping bag, a design that became an instant cultural landmark. She followed that breakthrough with innovations that reshaped everyday fashion: sweats as acceptable sportswear, the parachute dress, and the red swimsuit worn by Farrah Fawcett. In 1978, she launched the Norma Kamali OMO line, expanding her reach while retaining complete creative independence.

Today, Norma Kamali remains a privately held company based in New York City, with Kamali still serving as its sole owner and creative director. The brand continues to produce women's ready-to-wear, swimwear, and accessories, and has evolved into digital commerce with the NORMAKAMALIFESTYLE initiative, all while preserving the independent spirit that has defined it for nearly six decades.