Michael Kors
Founder and chief creative officer of Michael Kors
Michael Kors is an American designer who founded his label in 1981 and built it into one of the best-known accessible luxury brands in the world. He designed for Céline at the turn of the millennium, and his company went public in 2011 before becoming the core of Capri Holdings.
| Role | Founder and chief creative officer, Michael Kors |
|---|---|
| Group | Capri Holdings |
| Founded | 1981, New York |
| Previously | Creative director, Céline (1999 to 2003) |
| Born | 1959 |
| Nationality | American |
Who is Michael Kors?
Michael Kors is an American fashion designer, born on Long Island, New York, in 1959. He is the founder and chief creative officer of the Michael Kors brand, which sits within Capri Holdings alongside Jimmy Choo. His name is associated with polished American sportswear and, commercially, with handbags and accessories sold at accessible luxury prices.
Career
Kors briefly studied at the Fashion Institute of Technology and began working at the New York boutique Lothar's in the late 1970s as a buyer, display director and designer. In 1981 he launched his own women's collection, sold at Bergdorf Goodman. The business went through bankruptcy in 1993 after problems with a licensing partner, but recovered.
In 1997 he was hired to design ready-to-wear for the French house Céline, and served as its creative director from 1999 to 2003. He then focused on his own brand, adding menswear and, in 2004, the lower-priced MICHAEL Michael Kors line together with footwear and accessories. The same year he became a judge on the television show Project Runway, which greatly raised his public profile.
In December 2011 Michael Kors Holdings went public on the New York Stock Exchange. The company later expanded into a multi-brand group and was renamed Capri Holdings, with the Michael Kors brand remaining its largest business. Kors has received the CFDA's womenswear and menswear designer awards and its Geoffrey Beene Lifetime Achievement Award.
Influence on the fashion business
Kors is one of the clearest examples of a designer-led company built on a tiered brand structure:
- A runway collection that sets the image of the brand
- A larger, lower-priced line that drives volume
- Handbags and accessories as the main source of revenue
- Wide wholesale distribution combined with own retail and outlets
This model, often called accessible luxury, helped define a whole segment of the American market in the 2010s and influenced competitors and investors alike.
Why it matters
Michael Kors shows how a designer's creative identity can underpin a large, publicly listed accessories business. His career also illustrates the importance of media visibility, licensing and channel strategy for brands operating between mass market and high luxury.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Michael Kors?
Michael Kors is an American designer who founded his label in 1981 and is its chief creative officer. He also designed for Céline from 1997 and was its creative director from 1999 to 2003.
Who owns the Michael Kors brand?
Michael Kors is part of Capri Holdings, the listed group that grew out of Michael Kors Holdings after its 2011 stock market debut. Capri also owns Jimmy Choo.