Norma had résence long before Gen-Z's unbridled usage made it Oxford University Press's Word of the Year for 2023. Who is Norma Kamali, you ask? Normally, we'd say the legendary designer needs no introduction. But at least three generations have passed since she first started designing, making it necessary to revisit memories a bit. To put things into perspective, of those who started their labels in the 60s and 70s, Norma Kamali is one of the rare few who has remained at the helm of her namesake brand and her business is thriving.

What was true then is true now – Norma was and always will be a woman of true originality. “I never look at other people's designs and copy them,” she says. “I do fittings straight on the mannequin and if I have an idea, I take it from there.” This has been her sole 'design method' for the past 60 years.

Before we dive deeper into Norma's legend, here are a few examples of why she's the way she is. You'd think bum shorts only became popular IRL after they appeared in the SS24 show? When Norma began making her own clothes in 1968, she was one of the first women in New York City to cut shorts to that height. “I'm always thinking about the world and what women are experiencing at a certain time, and what they need from it,” she explains. “That's the way the thread runs for me.”