Natori
Josie (1947). American designer of ultra glamorous underwear, her creations can be worn both under and over other clothes. Her most famous pieces are little slips and bras exclusively embroidered in the Philippines. Some while ago she also launched a men’s line. With a degree in economics, she began her career as a consultant and currency trader on Wall Street. However, in 1977, after nine years in high finance, she created her own company selling luxury underwear. She owns two important stores, one in New York and the other in Manila. President Clinton invited her to take part in the Small Business Trade Council. During the 1990s, Natori Josie launched the perfume Natori, with substantial success. She has been awarded the prestigious Ellis Island Medal of Honor. In collaboration with the Asia Society of America and the Fashion Institute of Technology, she runs a course on traditional Philippine tailoring, where she teaches the use of fabrics such as pina (a fiber taken from pineapples) and abaca (obtained from bananas). The best pieces of work by her students are displayed as part of “Philippine Style 2000.”
&Quad;2002. The publication Josie Natori, written by Victoria Fung, celebrated 25 years of the designer’s career.
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