After getting off to an amazing start -- his very first collection was picked up by Neiman Marcus -- Norman Ambrose's self-titled women's couture line took a serious hit when the economy tanked in 2008.
"Women weren't buying three gowns at a time," he said. "Instead they were only buying one."
With a small shop, Ambrose was able to reconsider the evolving needs of his customers while remaining true to the high-end, luxury niche that his company was built to fill.
He became less specialized and started designing full collections of suits, daywear and separates, as opposed to just expensive, extravagant gowns.
Today Ambrose is optimistic. His "understated but opulent" collection for Spring 2012 will debut at Fashion Week, and he is confident that all of the "socially and financially independent" women he caters to will be taking notice.
"I design for the professional woman who may represent a company or a country, and she needs to look the part," said Ambrose.
These women, made famous through modeling, show they have brains as well as beauty when it comes to business.
