Fashion designer Michael Kors discusses working at the New York luxury boutique Lothar's at age 18 in the late 1970s.
Insight
The luxury fashion playbook is never talking down to the customer
“I think the big playbook is never talk down to the customer. So whether it's a t-shirt or an evening gown, It's thoughtfully and intelligently designed, and we also have to remember, in a world that is casual, the richest person in the world does not fill thei…”
Insight
Kors: Good designers solve problems democratically across ages and sizes
“If you're good at what you do, you're a problem solver. You're solving the puzzle. So you should be able to design in such a way that you get your message across, but at the same time, you have that possibility to be democratic, whether that's just in size or …”
Assertion Not checkable as stated
Michael Kors personally reviews 95 percent of the brand's designs
“Am I touching every piece myself? I would say 95% of it, yes. I see it.”
Insight
Kors: Fashion sportswear means versatile separates, not athletic jogging clothes
“You know, what we in the fashion industry say sportswear, A lot of people think that means jogging clothes, but it's really boils down to sort of this American invention of clothes that are versatile, you know, separate pieces that you can wear different ways.”
Assertion Not publicly verifiable
Bergdorf Goodman secured one-year New York exclusivity for Kors's debut line
“Don Mello said, we really think the clothes are terrific, and we think they're perfect for Bergdorf Goodman, and we... We want to be the only store in New York to carry the collection for at least a year.”
Assertion Supported
Michael Kors kept producing and shipping collections during Chapter 11 bankruptcy
“We went into Chapter 11 bankruptcy, but the, right away we made the decision
We're not gonna stop producing our collection.
We're gonna continue to ship it to the stores, and we're gonna continue doing business.
Maybe we won't be able to have an advertising…”