A Tale of Michael Kors Brand History

We all know the most famous Michael Kors is a world-renowned American fashion designer who is very well known for his fashion company and also as a judge in the popular television show “Project Runway.” But how many of you know that this famous fashion designer dropped out of his fashion college after two-semester, but still shines successfully in his career Do you know what his first project was? Discover more about Michael Kors brand history through our blog.

Michael Kors History

Michael David Kors was born on August  9, 1959, in Long Island, New York. When Kors was a toddler, he worked as a model, by appearing in national campaigns for products like toilet paper and lucky charm cereal. Kors has been a fashion addict from the very beginning even when he designed his mom’s wedding dress. In the 1970s, Kors moved to New York City to attend the fashion institute of technology but he dropped out of college after two semesters as he loved the city more than his school. 

Michael Kors as a Fashion Designer

In 1978, Kors went to work in a French boutique named Lothar’s where he was allowed to design and merchandise his fashion collection. With that inspiration, Kors was able to start his own fashion line. His very first project “Women Collection ” was launched in May 1981 and it was sold in high-end department stores like Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue. His simple and elegant clothing and his admiring efficient sales techniques bought him fame. When he was 23, he persuaded Anna Wintour, the editor of New York magazine to see his collection. And now he also persuaded the editor of Vogue. Kors presented the collection on his bed in his flat, rather than in the glittering Madison Avenue shops he’d eventually have. 

From humble beginnings, he quickly gained famous followers such as Barbara Walters and won honors for his designs. However, Kors firm was forced to reorganize under Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1990. 

Kors established KORS Michael Kors after regaining his status. In the year 1997, he was named creative director of Celine, a French fashion business, and within 6 years he continued to build his own brand by creating menswear, accessories, and perfume lines. In 2003, he received the “Menswear Designer of the Year” award, the most eminent fame in American fashion from the Council of Design Designers of America.