Josie Natori

Infobox Fashion Designer


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name=Josie Natori
nationality=Filipino
birth_date=
birth_place=
death_date=
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education=Manhattanville College
label_name=Josie Natori, Natori, Josie, Cruz
significant_design=|awards=|

Josie Natori (born Josefina Almeda Cruz) is a Filipina fashion designer and the CEO and founder of [http://www.natori.com The Natori Company.] Natori served as a commissioner on the White House Conference on Small Business. In March 2007 she was awarded the Order of Lakandula, one of the highest civilian awards in the Philippines. cite web| url =http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-160727904.html| title = Josie Natori Receives Top Philippine Honor| publisher =WWD | accessdate=December 11, 2007] In April, 2007, Natori received the "Peopling of America" Award from the Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation. cite web|url =http://www.ellisisland.org/genealogy/2007_recipients.asp| title = The Ellis Island 2007 Family Heritage Awards - 2007 Recipients| publisher =The Statue of Liberty - Ellis Island Foundation | accessdate=May 15, 2008]

Early life

Josefina Almeda Cruz was born in the Philippines in 1947. Her mother is Angela Cruz. She was raised in a close-knit Filipino family, as one of six siblings. Her first love was the piano, and she performed solo with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra at the age of nine. cite web|url =http://runway2reality.blogspot.com/2007/11/josie-natori-designer-ceo-of-natori.html| title = Josie Natori - Designer/CEO The Natori Company, Filipino| publisher =Runway2Reality| accessdate =May 15, 2008]

Natori moved to the United States in 1964 to attend Manhattanville College. After graduating, she worked at Merrill Lynch, where she rose the ranks to become the first female Vice President in Investment Banking. On Wall Street, she also met her husband Ken Natori, who served as a Managing Director of Shearson Lehman. The couple married in 1972.

Professional Career/The Natori Company

Natori made the move from Wall Street to fashion full-time in 1977, after considering a number of other entrepreuneurial ventures from opening a McDonald's franchise, to reproducing antique furniture. cite web|url =http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1664382,00.html| title = Josie Natori Turns Dressing Inside Out| publisher=Time| accessdate =May 15, 2008] She settled on fashion after a buyer at Bloomingdale's suggested she lengthen some peasant blouses sent to her from her native Philippines. The reworked garments were sold as nightshirts.

[http://www.natori.com The Natori Company] now sells lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear, underwear and other high-end women's fashion to upscale department stores in the US, and to at least 15 countries internationally. cite web|url =http://www2.nysun.com/business/natori-celebrates-30-years-at-breakneck-pace/| title = Natori celebrates 30 years at breakneck pace.| publisher=New York Sun| accessdate =May 15, 2008] . In addition to women's clothing, the company is also in the home furnishings industry, and in May, 2008 signed a licensing deal to sell Natori perfume. cite web|url=http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=852741| title = Parlux Fragrances, Inc. Partners with The Natori Company to Launch Luxurious New Fragrance|publisher=MarketWire| accessdate =May 15, 2008] The perfume is set to debut in the US in September, 2009, with international distribution to follow.

Awards

On October 3, 2008, Bank of the Philippine Islands Director Zobel de Ayala and Labor Secretary Marianito Roque awarded the 2008 BPInoy Award for Natori at the Makati Shangri-La Hotel. In 2007, Natori celebrated her 30th year as the CEO-founder of her New York million-dollar fashion empire. Natori had also been received the 1998 Galleon Award from Corazon Aquino. [ [http://www.gmanews.tv/story/125013/BPI-awards-two-outstanding-overseas-Filipinos BPI awards two outstanding overseas Filipinos, BPI awards two outstanding overseas Filipinos] ] [ [http://globalnation.inquirer.net/news/breakingnews/view/20081011-165895/Natori-Hizon-win-world-class-award globalnation.inquirer, Natori, Hizon win world-class award] ]

References

External links

* [http://www.natori.com www.natori.com]