An important & rare archival piece from US designer Norma Kamali, this Navajo beaded vest dates to the 70's. The designer described the inspiration & process behind these pieces in a 2018 interview with Fashion Week Daily, stating "I was using hand-appliquéd fabrics from tribes, and I decided to take all the patterns and do them in beading. I used Native American fabrics, and worked with a place in India to do the beading, and it was all done by deaf girls in a convent. They learned the art and we gladly paid for their work, which was always so beautiful." Hand crafted on a silk base, the vest features a bold red, yellow, white & black pattern with two hook & eye closures at the front and a leather back with attached tie. An incredibly high quality & stunningly constructed piece, this is also highly documented with pieces from the same collection being highlighted in Forbes & a beaded scarf in the same print held in the permanent collection of The Met Museum's Costume Institute.

Reference Photos: (1-3) How To Score A Piece From Norma Kamali's Surprise Vintage Stash, Forbes Magazine 2018 (4) Met Museum Archives

Marked size: US 4

Best for: XS/S/M

Measurements (laid flat & fastened): shoulder to shoulder: 10.5"/27cm, bust: 18"/46cm, waist: 13.5"/35cm, length: 24"/61.5cm

Material: silk, beads & leather

Condition: Excellent/Very Good; minimal signs of wear including light marking to leather back

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Norma Kamali 70's Navajo hand beaded silk & leather waistcoat

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Norma Kamali
70's Navajo hand beaded silk & leather waistcoat