Josie Natori

A trailblazer in global fashion, Josie Natori has spent nearly five decades bridging Eastern heritage with Western sophistication through The Natori Company. Founded in 1977, her brand began with sleepwear and has since evolved into a complete lifestyle empire encompassing ready-to-wear, lingerie, home furnishings, eyewear, and fine jewellery. Her designs are carried in major fashion capitals and embody an enduring East-meets-West sensibility that has become her hallmark.

In 2025, Natori’s journey from executive to internationally acclaimed designer was the focus of Heritage and Ambition, a feature on the This is Capitalism platform. The profile celebrated her commitment to artistry and empowerment, particularly her efforts to sustain Filipino craftsmanship by employing over 500 people, 90 per cent of whom are women. It also underscored her unique journey from pursuing a career on Wall Street to founding her own company. That same year, she brought fashion to the stage as the featured costume designer for La Voix Humaine at Intramuros Evenings, merging couture with performance art in a memorable cultural collaboration.

Natori continues to champion cross-cultural dialogue as Chairman of the Asian Cultural Council, a non-profit founded by John D Rockefeller, dedicated to fostering creative exchange between Asia and the United States. Her enduring legacy is one of heritage, innovation, and artistry—proof that fashion, in her hands, transcends boundaries and becomes a bridge between worlds.