Inspiring Conversations with Kam’Ron Young of Normak

Today we’d like to introduce you to Kam’Ron Young.

Kam’Ron, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
Being a part of that year’s musical, Hairspray. I got the role of Seaweed, which was expected but an accomplishment for my first time doing something of such. Up until then, I was just an athlete. A soccer and basketball player. My middle school allowed me to explore myself. I would have never thought of myself as going up on a stage and acting and singing in front of people, but I did. This was my first step into starting Normak, and it was the seed of the idea that I could do anything I put my heart and soul into. The concept of Normak came up around the 8th grade.

At first, my notebook ideas were tech-centered. I had written ideas about operating systems, apps, etc. I was not interested in studying computer science then, so that door closed for the time being. When it got time to work on costumes for the musical, that’s where the motivation to take Normak in a fashion direction originated. My mom and I had to dress my character for myself, which was a headache at first. Being able to tell a story through my choices and then showcase this energy on stage was such an incredible feeling, and after that, Normak came to fruition.

I spent most of my high school time studying business, which was great because, for all of my projects, I was able to center them around the idea of Normak, which, at the time, I didn’t know what creative direction I wanted to pursue with the brand, so this allowed me to boil down to a brand story that would be built for the long run. Fast forward to my first year of college, I found the value in human connection and storytelling. Coming into a new school where I could almost “try again,” I had to do the whole learning process of people, which is super fun, just sitting with people, soon-to-be friends, and listening to their come up.

I found immense satisfaction in listening to people’s stories, whys, hows, and passions. What was weird was when I would listen to people, I would start thinking of designs based on their stories. That’s when it clicked on where I wanted to go with Normak, sharing human stories through the medium of fashion.

Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
No, but I didn’t expect it to be. I’ve done many wrong things, but they were all worth it. I’ve placed orders in centimeters instead of inches too many times now. Now, I just laugh when I do it. The biggest struggle was developing what I wanted to do with the brand.

I couldn’t stand being “just another clothing brand.” That didn’t feel any purpose, nor did it keep me creative. It took five years to develop a brand image that I was proud of. I could not create anything worthwhile without it being something I wanted to develop for years to come.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Normak is a brand that focuses on storytelling through the medium of fashion. We make wearable stories. I’m most proud that we continue to get better at this every day. I go to school where I study business and fashion, and it’s funny when I beat the study sometimes. It’s like, “Oh yeah, I figured this out last month.”

On the topic of what sets us apart from others, there are so many clothing brands and fashion houses. It’s hard to keep track. For business’s sake, I’m always looking at them. It’s nice to see what emerging ideas and innovations are happening in the market. Our brand identity sets us apart from other brands, but I am not worried about what the next brand is doing. No one can do it like we do, and they won’t share the same story nor walk the same mile.

Normak is about putting meaningful pieces in your closet. It’s more than the texture, fabric, or print. I like to describe Normak as the illustrator of stories. We didn’t live the life we’re illustrating; instead, the author did, and we just happened to be lucky enough to share this story with the world in the form of fashion.

In terms of your work and the industry, what are some of the changes you are expecting to see over the next five to ten years?
There’s a State of Fashion report that comes out every Q4, which has a lot of predictions on the future of fashion. Those predictions are pretty accurate, too, given industry professionals develop them. Personally, though, I think we will see more of a shift into technology-driven fashion. I believe the integration of fashion and technology will start to drive brands. Developing an omnichannel experience will also be critical for brands to drive into emerging markets.

The rise in technical wear fashion choices has been trending this year, so I see the market moving towards more functional garments. It will be interesting to watch how the luxury sector shifts as well. Consumers are moving away from name brands and purchasing garments they like, not the idea that others will like them. I think brands must focus on extending their relationship with consumers beyond the register, creating an everlasting connection with communities.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.normaksupply.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/normaksupply/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kamronyoung
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/normaksupply
• Other: https://www.linkedin.com/company/normak-supply