NoRal Apparel is a Menswear Apparel brand that creatively integrates bold fabrication, individuality and elements from our endless pop culture.
A native of Kentucky, LaRon Hickerson, the designer & creator of all of that is NoRal Apparel graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Fashion Design.
LaRon's achievements include winning the 2002 Precious Lashley,
$10,000 fashion scholarship presented by N'DIGO publications and placing as a semi-finalist for the 2000 Victor Skrebneski Fashion Scholarship.
The growth of NoRal Apparel as a brand stems from the relocation to the West Coast where the line has been featured in the Los Angeles Black Business Expo, Beauty Revolution in Anaheim, Los Angeles Urban Fashion Week, Los Angeles Mens Fashion Week and more.
In November of 2005 to February 2006 LaRon alongside Melissa Rivers brought to TV Guide channel the television pilot, The Stylist. LaRon earned his first National tear sheet published in Inside TV Magazine by putting together a wild rock and roll look for Young and the Restless star Christine Williams played by Lauralee Bell.
Television, theater & film became the lane of choice for 2012 & 2013. Product placement for NoRal Apparel included: the Zane Original Cinemax Series The Jump Off, supplying select NoRal Apparel for actor Sean Riggs in the Independant film A Thin Line, and placement in the Paul Hannah directed movies, Busted and Who can I run to.
May of 2012 to present date NoRal Apparel continues to headline as the featured fashion show for Blatino Oasis - Palm Springs CA.
June of 2013 Famed author James Earl Hardy handpicked NoRal Apparel for character Raheim in the lines theatrical debut for the stage adaptation of the best selling book
B Boy Blues.
October 26th 2013, NoRal Apparel unveiled Spring/Summer 2014 at Men's Fashion Week Los Angeles. Hosted by the California Market Center - Penthouse.
Spring of 2014 LaRon created & trademarked Dad & Dog, a sub brand of NoRal Apparel, geared at pet advocacy. Dad & Dog is a diverse online community that shares the day in and day out moments of Dad's with their Dogs. @dadanddog (instagram)
Summer of 2015 LaRon created the JTRIBE Snapback. The snapback hat represented the Unbreakable bond for Janet Jackson fans better known as her JTRIBE. LaRon managed to throw the hat onstage to Janet. She caught, wore and left the stage with it. The hat went viral since its toss and since 2015 over 500+ JTRIBE Snapbacks have been sold around the world.
June of 2016 The NoRal Apparel Vinyl Luxe Vee was featured on Rich Laru during the BET Awards - Experience.
July of 2016 The NoRal Apparel Luxe Mesh Gold Hood was featured on Brian Friedman during an episode of So You Think You Can Dance. Brian would then later go on to attend World Dance Mexico in a NoRal Apparel custom made piece
April of 2019 LaRon joined forces with celebrity stylist Robert Behar (Janet, Naomi, Mariah, Dolly) to help produce his Styling Masterclass in Los Angeles CA. The class was a success and are scheduled to relaunch in Spring of 2021.
The line has graced the pages of several digital & print magazines including Swerv Magazine, Blake Mag, Huf Magazine and Obvious Magazine.
All garments are Sewn | Designed | Patterned
by LaRon D. Hickerson aka Ron DuWayne for NoRal Apparel
