Josie Natori
Encyclopedia
Josie Natori is a Filipina
fashion designer and the CEO and founder of 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. In April, 2007, Natori received the "Peopling of America" Award from the Statue of Liberty
- Ellis Island
Foundation.
in 1947. Her mother is Angelita 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.
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.
to fashion
full-time in 1977, after considering a number of other entrepreuneurial ventures from opening a McDonald's
franchise, to reproducing antique furniture
. 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.
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. 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
. The perfume debuted in the US in September, 2009, with international distribution to follow. Natori also launched towel and eyewear lines in the Fall of 2009 as well.
collaboration -- which is themed "East Meets West" -- will be Target's first limited-edition lingerie and loungewear collection. Natori's first installment will be available on October 30, 2011 to December 22. The second installment of Asia-inspired silk undies and other goodies will be available on News Year Day 2012 until February (just in time for Valentine's Day)! The collection consists of 37 pieces, including bras, panties, robes, knits, leggings, cam is and chemises with prices ranging from $9.99 to $34.99.
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 The Natori Company
. Natori also received the Galleon Award from Corazon Aquino
in 1998.
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
fashion designer and the CEO and founder of The Natori Company. Natori served as a commissioner on the White House
White House
The White House is the official residence and principal workplace of the president of the United States. Located at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW in Washington, D.C., the house was designed by Irish-born James Hoban, and built between 1792 and 1800 of white-painted Aquia sandstone in the Neoclassical...
Conference on Small Business. In March 2007 she was awarded the Order of Lakandula
Order of Lakandula
The Order of Lakandula is one of the highest honors given by the Republic of the Philippines. It is an order of political and civic merit, awarded in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.Its...
, one of the highest civilian awards in the Philippines. In April, 2007, Natori received the "Peopling of America" Award from the Statue of Liberty
Statue of Liberty
The Statue of Liberty is a colossal neoclassical sculpture on Liberty Island in New York Harbor, designed by Frédéric Bartholdi and dedicated on October 28, 1886...
- Ellis Island
Ellis Island
Ellis Island in New York Harbor was the gateway for millions of immigrants to the United States. It was the nation's busiest immigrant inspection station from 1892 until 1954. The island was greatly expanded with landfill between 1892 and 1934. Before that, the much smaller original island was the...
Foundation.
Early life
Josefina Almeda Cruz was born in the PhilippinesPhilippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
in 1947. Her mother is Angelita Cruz. She was raised in a close-knit Filipino
Filipino people
The Filipino people or Filipinos are an Austronesian ethnic group native to the islands of the Philippines. There are about 92 million Filipinos in the Philippines, and about 11 million living outside the Philippines ....
family, as one of six siblings. Her first love was the piano, and she performed solo with the Manila Philharmonic Orchestra
Manila Philharmonic Orchestra
The Manila Philharmonic Orchestra or MPO is an all-Filipino orchestra that is "owned and managed by the artists." This makes the MPO unique from the other orchestras in the country, as all decisions are collectively made by orchestra members, including concert programs and choice of guest...
at the age of nine.
Natori moved to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1964 to attend Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College
Manhattanville College is a private, coeducational liberal arts college offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, located in Purchase, New York. Founded in 1841 it was known initially as Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart...
. After graduating, she worked at Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
, where she rose the ranks to become the first female Vice President in Investment Banking
Investment banking
An investment bank is a financial institution that assists individuals, corporations and governments in raising capital by underwriting and/or acting as the client's agent in the issuance of securities...
. 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 StreetWall Street
Wall Street refers to the financial district of New York City, named after and centered on the eight-block-long street running from Broadway to South Street on the East River in Lower Manhattan. Over time, the term has become a metonym for the financial markets of the United States as a whole, or...
to fashion
Fashion
Fashion, a general term for a currently popular style or practice, especially in clothing, foot wear, or accessories. Fashion references to anything that is the current trend in look and dress up of a person...
full-time in 1977, after considering a number of other entrepreuneurial ventures from opening a McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
franchise, to reproducing antique furniture
Antique furniture
Antique furniture is the term for collectible interior furnishings of considerable age. Often its age, rarity, condition, utility, or other unique features makes a piece of furniture desirable as a collectors' item, and thus termed an "antique"....
. She settled on fashion after a buyer at Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's
Bloomingdale's is an American department store owned by Macy's, Inc. .Bloomingdale's started in 1861 when brothers Joseph and Lyman G. Bloomingdale started selling hoop-skirts in their Ladies Notions' Shop on Manhattan's Lower East Side...
suggested she lengthen some peasant
Peasant
A peasant is an agricultural worker who generally tend to be poor and homeless-Etymology:The word is derived from 15th century French païsant meaning one from the pays, or countryside, ultimately from the Latin pagus, or outlying administrative district.- Position in society :Peasants typically...
blouses sent to her from her native Philippines
Philippines
The Philippines , officially known as the Republic of the Philippines , is a country in Southeast Asia in the western Pacific Ocean. To its north across the Luzon Strait lies Taiwan. West across the South China Sea sits Vietnam...
. The reworked garments were sold as nightshirts.
The Natori Company now sells lingerie
Lingerie
Lingerie are fashionable and possibly alluring undergarments.Lingerie usually incorporates one or more flexible, stretchy materials like Lycra, nylon , polyester, satin, lace, silk and sheer fabric which are not typically used in more functional, basic cotton undergarments.The term in the French...
, sleepwear, loungewear, underwear and other high-end women's fashion to upscale department stores in the US, and to at least 15 countries internationally. 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
Perfume
Perfume is a mixture of fragrant essential oils and/or aroma compounds, fixatives, and solvents used to give the human body, animals, objects, and living spaces "a pleasant scent"...
. The perfume debuted in the US in September, 2009, with international distribution to follow. Natori also launched towel and eyewear lines in the Fall of 2009 as well.
Collaborations
The Natori x TargetTarget Corporation
Target Corporation, doing business as Target, is an American retailing company headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is the second-largest discount retailer in the United States, behind Walmart. The company is ranked at number 33 on the Fortune 500 and is a component of the Standard & Poor's...
collaboration -- which is themed "East Meets West" -- will be Target's first limited-edition lingerie and loungewear collection. Natori's first installment will be available on October 30, 2011 to December 22. The second installment of Asia-inspired silk undies and other goodies will be available on News Year Day 2012 until February (just in time for Valentine's Day)! The collection consists of 37 pieces, including bras, panties, robes, knits, leggings, cam is and chemises with prices ranging from $9.99 to $34.99.
Awards
On October 3, 2008, Bank of the Philippine IslandsBank of the Philippine Islands
Bank of the Philippine Islands is the oldest bank in the Philippines still in operation and is the country's third largest bank in terms of assets, the country's largest bank in terms of market capitalization, and the country's most profitable bank...
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 The Natori Company
The Natori Company
is a women's fashion designer and manufacturer based in New York. The company sells lingerie, sleepwear, loungewear, ready-to-wear, underwear and other high-end women's fashion to upscale department stores in the US, and to at least 15 countries internationally...
. Natori also received the Galleon Award from Corazon Aquino
Corazon Aquino
Maria Corazon Sumulong Cojuangco-Aquino was the 11th President of the Philippines and the first woman to hold that office in Philippine history. She is best remembered for leading the 1986 People Power Revolution, which toppled Ferdinand Marcos and restored democracy in the Philippines...
in 1998.