# Advice Line with Norma Kamali of Norma Kamali

- Show: [How I Built This](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this)
- Published: 2024-11-28
- Length: 50m
- Page: https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-28-advice-line-with-norma-kamali-of-norma-kamali

## Summary

Fashion legend Norma Kamali joins Guy Raz to advise three early-stage founders: Ahmed Ijaz of Cambridge Spectacle Company, Bob Wilkoff of Sunny Bowls, and Adriana Alvarez of Love Her Shop. Kamali shares insights on balancing creative vision with profitability, the importance of authentic storytelling to attract investors, and the risks of wholesale distribution for DTC brands. The founders discuss specific challenges ranging from naming conventions and brand narrative to product differentiation in crowded markets like eyewear, fast-casual soup, and inclusive activewear.

## Chapters

- [0:00](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-28-advice-line-with-norma-kamali-of-norma-kamali#t=0) Introduction and Norma Kamali's Business Advice
- [6:58](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-28-advice-line-with-norma-kamali-of-norma-kamali#t=418) Ahmed Ijaz and Cambridge Spectacle Company
- [21:26](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-28-advice-line-with-norma-kamali-of-norma-kamali#t=1286) Bob Wilkoff and Sunny Bowls
- [34:33](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-28-advice-line-with-norma-kamali-of-norma-kamali#t=2073) Adriana Alvarez and Love Her Shop
- [47:30](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/how-i-built-this/2024-11-28-advice-line-with-norma-kamali-of-norma-kamali#t=2850) Closing Advice and Norma's Origin Story

## Topics

- [Marketing & brand](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/marketing-and-brand)
- [Fundraising & investors](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/fundraising)
- [Direct-to-consumer & e-commerce](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/direct-to-consumer)
- [Retail, wholesale & distribution](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/topic/retail-and-distribution)

## Most relevant to

early-stage companies

## Mentioned

- Cambridge Spectacle Company (company)
- Warby Parker (company)
- Sunny Bowls (company)
- Love Her Shop (company)
- Lululemon (company)
- Jones Apparel (company)
- Walmart (company)
- Vogue (other)
- Harper's Bazaar (other)

## Related episodes from other shows

- [Investor Spotlight: Consumer Psychology, Channel Strategy, and What Actually Makes Brands Win — David Bell, Idea Farm Ventures](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-06-13-investor-spotlight-consumer-psychology-channel-strategy-and-what-actually-makes) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [#100 Toasting to 100 Episodes of The Startup CPG Podcast with Our Favorite Moments](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2023-07-25-100-toasting-to-100-episodes-of-the-startup-cpg-podcast-with-our-favorite-moment) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [290 - Taylor Foxman is the master connector for CPG's!](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/people-of-packaging/2024-09-26-290-taylor-foxman-is-the-master-connector-for-cpgs) (People of Packaging)
- [#244 - Live Pitch Practice & Feedback](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2026-04-14-244-live-pitch-practice-feedback) (The Startup CPG Podcast)
- [Founder Feature: Tabi and Meena Hoshmand of Tursh](https://hardwarepodcasts.com/podcast/the-startup-cpg-podcast/2025-11-14-founder-feature-tabi-and-meena-hoshmand-of-tursh) (The Startup CPG Podcast)

## Citing this page

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