Kama New York was incorporated ten years ago, 2008, but was established in 1987 when I first began doing the market in the lot beside Tower Records on forth street and Broadway. Back then I went under the company name Rags. I made mostly leather goods, hats, jackets, pants and then began to do stretch leggings and tops for the everyday person.

Pretty much nobody was wearing leggings back in 87, unless they were into dance, it was not considered street wear at all, in fact it was mostly frowned upon and considered a bit vulgar to show a camel toe in public. Most women who braved the trail wore a long garment to cover that portion of their bodies. That said, I pride myself in being a pioneer in bringing stretch leggings and sexy tops to the street market, as I was practically the only brave designer in the 80's daring to make and sell what was not popular in that era. 

I also introduced the spandex belt to that era, though I was not the one to capitalize from it's invention. Actually I didn't invent it myself, my then thirteen year old daughter began experimenting with a three inch wide roll of elastic I had laying around and the snap machine. She made a few dozen belts and we took them to market. They sold out by noon, we went back and began designing more from scrap leather, button snaps and threads.

After we sold the entire six rolls of elastic, (my notions guy had begged me to take, because he had a huge inventory and couldn't get rid of them) we went back to buy more and he and every other notions wholesaler had sold all their inventory, Needless to say, within weeks all the major fashion sellers were stocking elastic belts and they were going like hotcakes... 

Being in that SoHo market brought me into contact with many celebrities, and they liked what I was doing and soon I was designing for a few of them, and many of them brought my skimpy garments to accessorize their more expensive designer clothing... Just when I was at my height, I dropped out and stopped designing and selling, depressed from a breakup with the woman I loved... Sad story but that's for another page...

Well in 2000 I got back in the design world and partnered with another company, Naqu-Z, when that fell through I started my own company, and here I am. It's not big, but I'm in my comfort zone. Feels like when I first started the market, the freedom to express myself, to be able to do small lots and limited editions and one of a kinds... I sorta don't plan anything, like when I started. I just gather materials and let them tell me what to do with them.  Well that's a little bit about me and the company.  Sincerely... Hope you enjoy the products, 

Omar Noble

About

 
Photo shoot circa 1987

Photo shoot circa 1987

Photo shoot circa 1987

Photo shoot circa 1987