It almost isn't fair that one person could create so much gorgeous stuff—and a lovely place to sell it in, to boot. But lo and behold, fashion designer Norma Kamali has worked her streamlined aesthetic into a covetable collection of personal-care items and gourmet edibles. And what better showcase for what Kamali calls her updated "homeopathic remedies and grandma recipes" than her gleaming Wellness Café? Housed within her equally spotless, all-white flagship store on West 56th Street in New York City, it's an oasis of calm amid the urban chaos.
Born and bred in Manhattan, Kamali began developing her Wellness collection after September 11, 2001. Struck by her desire for comfort and well-being, she started with a beloved family staple: high-quality olive oil. "My mother was Lebanese and my father was from Spain, so olive oil was a big part of my childhood," she says. "We put it in our hair, swallowed a tablespoon of it a day to stay healthy, and used it in our food. It was everywhere."
To obtain the best oils for her collection, Kamali headed to the orchards of the Mediterranean. "I would leave with all these little jars, and I'd think to myself, This is a homeopathic, organic, simple way to feel and look good," she says. "I realized that the back-to-the-earth way of looking at things was really the basis of good nutrition, health, and wellness—especially if you also stay active."
Now, roughly six years later, the Wellness lineup includes three sub-brands (BarXV, Olive You, and ILoveOliveOil) and several fragrances (Lavande, Violette, Jazmin, Cucumber, and more). Whether it's sea-clay masque for Mom, shave crème for Dad, or olive-calcium liniment for baby, the range of products addresses the needs of the entire family. Gourmet treats (including soft drinks, teas, and bonbons) and home items, such as room spray and soap, round out the assortment.
If all goes as planned, the Wellness Café—a sleek take on an old-fashioned malt shop featuring olive-spiked ice cream and cupcakes, flower-based teas and sodas, and other fare—will roll out to other cities. And in the future, the café concept may expand into full-blown Wellness Centers that also offer olive-oil-based facials and massages.
Clearly Kamali is thinking in holistic, top-to-bottom terms. "I could go the department-store route and just sell the beauty items without the olive oils and everything else," she says. "I've had many opportunities to isolate specific items and sell them. But that's not why I'm doing this."
