Ilana

Nobody knew me at all. Exactly, because you were always kind of the behind the scenes, the person that actually creates all the designs. And at this point, you're roughly age 35. Am I correct? I was probably 30. We were married 19 to 29. That is a trauma. I still can't piece together why you don't have half of the business, but I think these were different times.

Nobody knew me at all. Exactly, because you were always kind of the behind the scenes, the person that actually creates all the designs. And at this point, you're roughly age 35. Am I correct? I was probably 30. We were married 19 to 29. That is a trauma. I still can't piece together why you don't have half of the business, but I think these were different times.

That's incredible, Norma. So take us there for a second, because then you're essentially starting from basically nothing. You don't have a name brand. You have $98. And eventually you become that designer forever. Pretty much all the known figures. Your bathing suit is in a museum. I'm wrapping my head around it. I mean, you're getting President George W. Bush to give you a prize, an award.

That's incredible, Norma. So take us there for a second, because then you're essentially starting from basically nothing. You don't have a name brand. You have $98. And eventually you become that designer forever. Pretty much all the known figures. Your bathing suit is in a museum. I'm wrapping my head around it. I mean, you're getting President George W. Bush to give you a prize, an award.

How did that even happen, Norma?

How did that even happen, Norma?

And that's incredible. I'm literally getting chills here. That is really, really inspiring. And I think people need to see others, especially women, do it on their own, but also ask for help and seeing how everybody is helping, right? Because otherwise you're staying stuck alone on the journey. And it's just so hard. You mentioned chair.

And that's incredible. I'm literally getting chills here. That is really, really inspiring. And I think people need to see others, especially women, do it on their own, but also ask for help and seeing how everybody is helping, right? Because otherwise you're staying stuck alone on the journey. And it's just so hard. You mentioned chair.

And I think you also had Bette Midler really early on, right? And suddenly you become this person who, Why do you think the stars suddenly got so drawn to Norma Kamali?

And I think you also had Bette Midler really early on, right? And suddenly you become this person who, Why do you think the stars suddenly got so drawn to Norma Kamali?

It's probably also the connections that you built, because I think you build a lot of trust and a lot of connections with some of these people. So they become an advocate and they relate to the brand. One of the things that popped for me, though, you at that point, you didn't really know how to sell, right? And you're starting on your own and you're expected to know how to sell.

It's probably also the connections that you built, because I think you build a lot of trust and a lot of connections with some of these people. So they become an advocate and they relate to the brand. One of the things that popped for me, though, you at that point, you didn't really know how to sell, right? And you're starting on your own and you're expected to know how to sell.

What made the transition?

What made the transition?

And you need to bargain anyway, right? Everywhere you go, you need to bargain. Negotiate.

And you need to bargain anyway, right? Everywhere you go, you need to bargain. Negotiate.

Oh my God, what an incredible story. And again, you were really bold with the things that you've done. You've done sleeping bags and like, I mean, you've done all these things that are just pushing everybody's thoughts to a next level. How were you not afraid?

Oh my God, what an incredible story. And again, you were really bold with the things that you've done. You've done sleeping bags and like, I mean, you've done all these things that are just pushing everybody's thoughts to a next level. How were you not afraid?

And to me, that's so inspiring. And I think a lot of our audience will really resonate. They're in a transition in their life, many of them, and they're trying to figure out what's next. How do I get faster, better? So this is really, really important. And I believe you keep on reinventing yourself also through COVID and also through other things, right?

And to me, that's so inspiring. And I think a lot of our audience will really resonate. They're in a transition in their life, many of them, and they're trying to figure out what's next. How do I get faster, better? So this is really, really important. And I believe you keep on reinventing yourself also through COVID and also through other things, right?