About
MR. KORS BEGAN HIS CAREER IN FASHION AT THE AGE OF
19 DESIGNING AND MERCHANDISING A COLLECTION FOR
THE RENOWNED BOUTIQUE LOTHAR'S IN NEW YORK CITY.
THE SUCCESS OF THESE CLOTHES CAUGHT THE ATTENTION
OF THE FASHION PRESS, PROMPTING KORS TO STRIKE OUT
ON HIS OWN. IN 1981 THE MICHAEL KORS LABEL WAS
FORMED; HIS FIRST WOMEN'S COLLECTION WAS LAUNCHED
AT BERGDORF GOODMAN AND SAKS FIFTH AVENUE, AMONG
OTHER STORES. SINCE HIS COLLECTION WAS
ESTABLISHED, IT HAS NEVER STRAYED FROM KORS'
INITIAL VISION OF CHIC, LUXURIOUS AMERICAN
SPORTSWEAR.
IN 2001, MICHAEL KORS LAUNCHED ACCESSORIES UNDER
HIS COLLECTION LABEL. TODAY, THE LINE INCLUDES A
FULL RANGE OF WOMEN'S HANDBAGS, SHOES, BELTS AND
EYEWEAR. IN JANUARY 2002, THE COMPANY LAUNCHED A
FULL-SCALE MEN'S COLLECTION IN RESPONSE TO THE
CRITICAL ACCLAIM RECEIVED BY A CAPSULE MENSWEAR
LINE LAUNCHED IN 1997.
IN FALL 2004, KORS UNVEILED HIS LATEST COLLECTION,
MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS, TO AN UNPRECEDENTED LAUNCH
IN OVER 350 DOORS NATIONWIDE. THE MICHAEL MICHAEL
KORS LABELS INCLUDE WOMEN'S READY TO WEAR,
SWIMWEAR AND ACCESSORIES INCLUDING HANDBAGS, SMALL
LEATHERGOODS, BELTS AND SHOES; MEN'S SPORTSWEAR,
TAILORED CLOTHING, DRESS SHIRTS AND NECKWEAR; AS
WELL AS EYEWEAR AND TIMEPIECES FOR BOTH MEN AND
WOMEN.
MR. KORS' FIRST SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE FOR WOMEN,
'MICHAEL KORS,' WAS LAUNCHED IN SEPTEMBER OF 2000.
FOLLOWING THE SUCCESS OF THE WOMEN'S FRAGRANCE, IN
SEPTEMBER OF 2001 KORS LAUNCHED HIS MEN'S
SIGNATURE FRAGRANCE COLLECTION. IN SPRING 2005,
THE COMPANY LAUNCHED ITS LATEST FRAGRANCE, 'ISLAND
MICHAEL KORS,' WHICH WON THE 2006 FIFI AWARD FOR
BEST BATH AND BODY COLLECTION.
MICHAEL KORS COLLECTION FLAGSHIP BOUTIQUES ARE
LOCATED IN THE UNITED STATES ON MADISON AVENUE, AT
THE AMERICANA MANHASSET AND ON RODEO DRIVE IN
BEVERLY HILLS; INTERNATIONAL BOUTIQUES ARE LOCATED
IN HONG KONG AND DUBAI. THE FIRST FREESTANDING
MICHAEL MICHAEL KORS STORE OPENED IN ASIA AT THE
LANDMARK SHOPPING CENTER IN HONG KONG IN APRIL OF
2005.
CELEBRITIES WHO HAVE WORN MR. KORS' CLOTHES
INCLUDE JENNIFER LOPEZ, CHARLIZE THERON, CATHERINE
ZETA-JONES, PIERCE BROSNAN, SHARON STONE, MADONNA,
BARBRA STREISAND, GWYNETH PALTROW, ANJELICA
HUSTON, KATE BOSWORTH, SIGOURNEY WEAVER, USHER,
LIV TYLER, JESSICA SIMPSON AND RENE RUSSO, WHOM
MR. KORS WORKED WITH ON THE WARDROBE FOR THE 1999
REMAKE OF THE "THOMAS CROWN AFFAIR."
MICHAEL KORS RECEIVED DUPONT'S FIRST AMERICAN
ORIGINAL AWARD IN 1983, AND THE ELLE/CADILLAC
FASHION AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN 1995. IN JULY 1996
HE WAS NAMED BY VOGUE MAGAZINE AS PART OF THE 'NEW
ESTABLISHMENT' — AND REFERRED TO AS ONE OF THE
MOST INFLUENTIAL DESIGNERS OF THE DECADE. IN
DECEMBER OF 1999, MR. KORS RECEIVED THE NEW YORK
AWARD, CELEBRATING 10 PEOPLE WHO EPITOMIZE THE
SPIRIT OF THE CITY, FROM NEW YORK MAGAZINE IN THE
FASHION CATEGORY. IN JUNE OF 1999, MICHAEL KORS
RECEIVED THE MOST PRESTIGIOUS AWARD IN THE FASHION
INDUSTRY — THE CFDA AWARD FOR WOMENSWEAR DESIGNER
OF THE YEAR, FOLLOWED BY THE CFDA MENSWEAR AWARD
IN 2003. IN JUNE OF 2001, 2005 AND 2006, MR. KORS
WAS ONE OF THREE NOMINEES FOR THE ACCESSORIES
DESIGNER OF THE YEAR AWARD BY THE CFDA. IN 2004,
MR. KORS SERVED AS ONE OF THE JUDGES ON THE
CRITICALLY ACCLAIMED AND EMMY NOMINATED REALITY
SHOW, "PROJECT RUNWAY," A ROLE THAT HE CONTINUED
IN ITS SECOND AND THIRD SEASONS. MR. KORS
CURRENTLY RESIDES IN NEW YORK CITY.