Norma Kamali leaves 11 West 56th Street and opens offices downtown

After 40 years, Norma Kamali left her headquarters at 11 West 56th Street in New York City and moved to new downtown offices at 609 Greenwich Street.

Kamali told WWD that the new 16,000 square foot space will be used for installations, exhibits "and all sorts of interactive and immersive things." She said it will also serve as the brand's headquarters and where the company will do photo shoots and podcasts. It will not serve as a retail space.

"We are still unpacking and installing and we don't need to be in the center of town anymore," Kamali said. "I'm delighted to be in a neighborhood, friendly and with a very community atmosphere. Google and Disney are opening nearby, so it's and will be an even more dynamic part of the city."

Kamali had purchased the building at 11 West 56th Street in 1982, which is currently on the market. This space had three floors and had won numerous architectural and interior awards.

"Yes, 11 West is about to sell out and it's time for another company to create a vision for their brand," Kamali said.

Last May, Kamali, a native New Yorker who built her business over 50 years in the city, received the City of Design Award from the Museum of the City of New York.

The designer, who is also the author of the book 'I Am Invincible', is known for items such as the sleeping bag coat, her signature swimwear and sweatshirt collection, and more recently, she had a very strong sale in her one-shoulder dress with gathered sides and an asymmetrical hem called Diana, which was worn by Carrie Bradshaw in "And Just Like That".