Norma Kamali Loves AI and Wants to Live to 121
The Run-Through with Vogue
Vogue
4.1 • 764 Ratings
🗓️ 22 July 2025
⏱️ 42 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
The words “icon” and “legend” are thrown around a lot these days, but Norma Kamali has truly had a fabulous career. Her use of unusual materials like sweatpant fabric, stretchy cotton Lycra, and even sleeping bags revolutionized womenswear. And that’s just the beginning.
On this week’s episode of The Run-Through, Kamali shares her wide-ranging thoughts on everything from the stylishness of the ’70s, the flattening effect of social media on personal expression and creativity, why she wants her staff to use AI at work, and the reason she opted not to celebrate her 80th birthday.
The Run-Through with Vogue is your go-to podcast where fashion meets culture. Hosted by Chloe Malle, Head of Editorial Content, Vogue U.S.; Chioma Nnadi, Head of British Vogue; and Nicole Phelps, Director of Vogue Runway, each episode features the latest fashion news and exclusive designer and celebrity interviews.
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| 0:00.0 | This episode of The Runthrough is brought to you by eBay. |
| 0:03.6 | eBay, it's the place to fall in love with new, pre-loved, vintage, and rare fashion over and over again. |
| 0:09.8 | Your favorite designers, expertly authenticated. |
| 0:12.9 | Yes, eBay, things people love. |
| 0:31.3 | This is The Run Through. I'm Nicole Phelps. I'm here in the studio today with my colleague and frequent run-through guest, Laird Borelli-Person. Thanks, Laird. |
| 0:48.5 | Thank you for having me, Nicole. Today we have a conversation with the legendary Norma Kamali. She has been a fixture in the fashion industry for almost 60 years, which is unbelievable, and has had an absolutely fantastic career. Laird, how did you first learn about Norma? |
| 0:56.4 | I remember the Vogue shoot with the sweats, a sweat outfit, a dress, I think, with big shoulder pads, |
| 1:04.0 | and of course knew the sleeping bag coat. But I had, thanks to you, who assigned me to review Norma, |
| 1:10.3 | maybe about four or five years ago, she's become one of my, the people I admire most. We have long appointments where we talk, of course, |
| 1:13.8 | about the collection, but then she has a spidey sense for what's happening in the world. And she's |
| 1:19.9 | always moving on and she's first. So it was, it was just a dream to be able to, to join you in talking with her today. |
| 1:28.7 | I think everyone will agree that Norma has a very fast-moving brain. |
| 1:32.4 | We had such a great visit with her in the studio. |
| 1:34.6 | She talked about her early days, her love of AI, |
| 1:37.8 | and how she's planning to live to 121. |
| 1:41.2 | Here's our conversation with Norma Kamali. |
| 1:49.0 | Hi. Here's our conversation with Norma Kamali. Welcome, Norma. Thank you so much for being here with Laird and me. |
| 1:52.4 | Thank you very much. |
| 1:54.4 | I'm thrilled. |
| 1:55.6 | We have wanted to have you on the podcast for a long time. |
| 1:59.7 | It turns out you are turning 80 this summer. |
| 2:02.7 | For most people, 80 is a big milestone, |
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