'You have to stay curious': Michael Kors on his inclusive brand's global rise

For Michael Kors, it's all about staying curious - both in terms of fashion trends and his own personal style. The 44-year-old designer has built an empire that spans watches, shoes, eyewear, and fragrance, with a brand that is synonymous with glamorous, aspirational lifestyle.

The industry, however, seems to be becoming increasingly about entertainment and spectacle rather than customer needs. Kors believes that fashion people can be overly trendy and forget that their job is to solve problems for different ages, sizes, and heights. He points out that when he says "wearable", some people think it's a dirty word, while others associate commercial clothing with being tacky.

In recent years, there has been a noticeable return to extreme thinness on the catwalks, a trend that Kors finds frustrating. Despite this, his brand continues to cast a range of sizes, and he believes that inclusivity is key to success in fashion. When asked about plus-size models, he notes that while some brands have used exclusively straight-sized models, including plus-sizes can make a brand more appealing to a wider audience.

Kors' rise to fame began in 1981 with his debut collection featuring sports-inspired pieces, which laid the foundations of what would later become known as athleisure. His empire now spans various product lines, and he credits his success to staying curious and energized about new ideas. He notes that fashion changes quickly, so it's essential to adapt and evolve.

When it comes to pricing, Kors' brand has been successful in finding a sweet spot between affordability and quality. His bags, for example, hover around the £230 mark, while his bestselling Hamilton bag is £275. This approach has helped him tap into the mid-tier market that luxury brands often struggle to reach due to rising prices.

To stay ahead of the game, Kors emphasizes the importance of staying curious and meeting customer needs. He believes that things that delight but still function are key to success in fashion right now. For him, this means creating products that are both stylish and practical, rather than just focusing on entertainment and spectacle. As he notes, "If you lock yourself in your atelier and you're only surrounded by your circle of friends or your circle of employees, you're gonna limit yourself."

I'm getting so tired of the fashion industry being all about drama and flash over substance... Like Michael Kors said, it's time to focus on solving problems for real people. I mean, who wants to wear clothes that are just going to sit there looking pretty, rather than actually doing something for you? For example, have you seen the latest plus-size model trend? It's all about inclusivity and celebrating different body types... which is amazing! But at the same time, I'm still waiting for more brands to step up their game when it comes to functional fashion. I mean, who needs a £500 pair of shoes that just looks cool, but can't even keep your feet dry in the rain? Not me, that's for sure...

I'm low-key getting so tired of the fashion industry being all about drama & less about making clothes that are actually useful for people's daily lives . Like, Michael Kors makes a point that just because something is wearable doesn't mean it's not cool or desirable . And I'm totally with him on plus-size models - it's crazy how some brands still only feature thin models and it's like, hello, people of all shapes & sizes want to shop at your store too!

I'm loving the new direction Michael Kors is taking his brand ! He's all about keeping it real and adapting to customer needs . I mean, who says fashion has to be all about looking good, but not being practical? Not me, that's for sure . I love how he's pushing inclusivity and featuring plus-size models - it's time we ditch the sizeism in fashion and get on board with diversity . And let's talk about pricing - £230 for a bag is no joke, but if you're getting quality, I say go for it ! The key to success is staying curious and evolving with the times . Michael Kors knows how to keep his brand fresh and exciting .

I don't think its all bad when the fashion industry is getting more attention to entertainment and spectacle . I mean, who doesn't love a good runway show? And Kors is right, some ppl can get too caught up in just following trends without thinking about how their designs will affect different age groups and sizes . But at the same time, its also true that some brands are being too tacky with commercial clothing .

I think what sets Kors apart is his approach to pricing - he's managed to find a sweet spot between affordability and quality, which makes his brand more accessible to a wider audience . And I love how he emphasizes the importance of staying curious and meeting customer needs . It's not always easy for brands to balance style with functionality, but I think that's what makes Kors' success so impressive .

I don't get why designers have to be so extra about it . Like, Michael Kors is all about staying curious and adapting to what's hot, but some brands are just stuck on being over-the-top. I mean, the whole plus-size thing is a good move, more brands should do that . And I'm not a fan of this "entertainment" vibe in fashion, it feels like they're more worried about making a statement than actually solving problems for customers . He's right though, staying curious and meeting needs is key to success. But can't we just have some comfy shoes that don't break the bank?

I'm really loving where Michael Kors is headed with his brand . I mean, who wouldn't want to dress both stylishly AND practically? It's all about finding that balance between looking fabulous and feeling confident . And I love how he's pushing for inclusivity in fashion - plus-size models are totally on point! It's so refreshing to see someone taking a stand for diversity in the industry . And let's be real, £230-£275 for bags is like, totally doable . I think that's what sets him apart from other luxury brands - he's got his finger on the pulse of what people want and need . Plus, it's awesome to see someone prioritizing customer needs over just being flashy .

I think its wild how fashion has become all about spectacle instead of actual style . I mean, can't we just focus on making clothes that people actually want to wear? Kors gets it right by keeping things affordable and practical, like his bags are so underrated . But what really bugs me is how some ppl think they're above plus sizes or whatever... inclusivity matters, you feel?

I think Kors is being way too honest about the fashion industry . Like, what's wrong with a little glamour and spectacle? Fashion is supposed to be fun and exciting! If people are getting tired of seeing plus-size models, maybe that's because they're just not interested in the same things as the industry, you know? And those straight-sized models who dominate the runways? They're still selling the same stuff to the same people who've been buying it for years. Inclusivity is great and all, but let's be real, if a brand wants to make bank, they need to appeal to a wider audience...

you know michael kors is like the epitome of staying true to oneself & his values even with all the trends changing fast he's still about creating wearable pieces that are both stylish & practical i love how he emphasizes meeting customer needs & not just chasing after celebrity collaborations or super expensive products - it's all about making fashion accessible to everyone regardless of size, age, or budget

Ugh, can't believe the state of fashion right now ‍. It's all about entertainment and spectacle, not about solving problems for people . Michael Kors is like, totally on point with his inclusive sizing and stuff . Plus-size models are a game-changer, imo. And I'm loving that he's keeping prices reasonable . His bags are still a fave of mine, £230 is a steal!

I'm so done with the fashion industry right now . It's all about the drama and spectacle, but what about the people who wear these clothes? Kors is speaking my language when he says that fashion should be about solving problems for different ages, sizes, and heights . I mean, have you seen some of those runway models lately? The emphasis on thinness is just ridiculous .

But what really gets me is how some brands are still stuck in the straight-sized model world . Kors is killing it with his inclusive approach, and it's about time more brands followed suit . Plus-size models can totally make a brand more appealing to a wider audience, and I'm all for it .

And let's talk about pricing - Kors is doing it right by finding that sweet spot between affordability and quality . His bags are perfect, imo . The mid-tier market is where it's at, but luxury brands just can't seem to get it together . Anyway, I'm all about Kors' "delightful yet functional" approach to fashion - can we get more of that, pls?

omg u guys i had the craziest conversation with my friend's sister in law last night and she was literally crying about how the fashion industry is so superficial like seriously michael kors says it all right? he thinks its all about being genuine and solving problems for ppl of all sizes & ages...i feel him tbh i went shopping over wknd and saw this ad for a brand that literally said "for plus-sized women only" what even is that?!?! anyway back to michael kors...he's all about staying curious & adapting to trends which im def gonna take note of lol because right now my wardrobe is just a hot mess need some new inspiration!

I'm so over the whole thin model thing ... like, come on people! We need more diversity on the catwalks, right? I love how Michael Kors is all about inclusivity and casting plus-size models - it's a total game changer for his brand . And can we talk about how affordable his bags are?! £230 is like, super reasonable for a quality bag . I think what sets him apart from other luxury brands is that he actually cares about meeting customer needs and creating products that are both stylish and practical . It's all about staying curious and not getting stuck in a bubble .

ugh, fashion industry is so broken ... like, michael kors gets it, he's all about keeping things real, but what about all the other brands that are just copying him? and don't even get me started on this whole plus-size thing, it's still super rare to see models of different sizes on the catwalk... like, how is that even supposed to be inclusive?

I'm all about Kors being totally underrated . People say he's just a fashion designer, but the dude is building an empire, right? He's not afraid to speak his mind and call out the industry for being super superficial. I mean, who hasn't felt pressured to look a certain way just because it's trending? Kors is all about inclusivity and making sure that fashion is for everyone, regardless of size or style . And can we talk about how he's killing it with his pricing strategy? £230 for a bag is not cheap, but it's def worth it if you're gonna get something that's both stylish and practical .

Ugh, can't believe what's going on in the fashion world . Michael Kors is trying to say that the industry has become all about entertainment and spectacle instead of actually solving problems for customers. Like, isn't that just obvious? Everyone knows that when you're shopping for clothes, it's not just about looking good (although let's be real, that's a big part of it), but also about feeling good and having a piece that can last. And what's with the obsession over thinness on the catwalks?! It's so gross . At least Kors is trying to do something about it by casting plus-size models - about time someone in this industry spoke up about body positivity... I guess .

I'm loving the new direction Michael Kors is taking his brand ! He's all about catering to a wider audience, especially when it comes to inclusivity. I mean, who doesn't want to see plus-size models strutting down the catwalk? It's about time more brands started thinking beyond just straight-sized models. And can we talk about how affordable his bags are? £230 is totally reasonable for a quality bag like that . What I love most about Kors' approach is that he's not afraid to think outside the box and try new things. He's all about innovation and meeting customer needs, which is exactly what you need in this fast-paced fashion industry . His emphasis on function over form is spot on – let's be real, who wants a stylish bag that just looks pretty if it can't hold up?

I feel like Michael Kors is totally right about the industry being more about entertainment than actual customer needs . I mean, have you seen some of those catwalks lately? It's all just a bunch of supermodels strutting around in outfits that are basically just for Instagram followers . And don't even get me started on the plus-size issue - it's about time more brands start featuring diverse models and sizes, like Kors is doing . The key to success in fashion is definitely staying curious and adapting to changing trends, not getting stuck in your ways . I also love how he's found that sweet spot between affordability and quality for his brand - it's all about making luxury accessible to more people, you know?

I think Michael Kors is totally onto something with inclusivity being key to his success. It's all about catering to different ages, sizes, and heights, ya know? Fashion should be for everyone, not just a select few who feel like they fit the "norm". And I'm so with him on not getting caught up in the whole entertainment-spectacle vibe. At the end of the day, it's all about creating products that are both stylish and practical . If more brands took this approach, we'd see some real change in the industry!