Norma Kamali

Norma Kamali

From The Big Interview by Monocle

April 18, 2025 · 30 min

About this episode

Norma Kamali discusses her enduring career in fashion, her design philosophy, and the impact of tariffs on her business.

After a career spanning almost six decades, US fashion icon Norma Kamali is still reinventing herself. After immersing herself in the London fashion scene in the 1960s and establishing a New York boutique at the end of the decade, Kamali quickly rose to prominence. Her designs could be found on the star-studded dance floors of Studio 54, on an iconic 1976 Farrah Fawcett poster and on Whitney Houston’s first album cover. She joins Monocle’s Emma Nelson to tell us about her approach to design, her dedication to wellness and how Donald Trump’s tariffs are affecting her business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Host: Emma Nelson

Guest: Norma Kamali

Topics covered

  • fashion
  • design
  • wellness
  • business
  • tariffs
  • iconic figures

Keywords

  • Norma Kamali
  • fashion icon
  • design
  • wellness
  • tariffs
  • Studio 54
  • New York boutique

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Donald Trump

Books & works: Farrah Fawcett poster, Whitney Houston’s first album cover

Places: London, New York

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