First (philanthropic) things first: Michael Kors is paying it forward! His Fall ’13 show hit the Tents yesterday (oh so futuristic, this time around), company sales are booming—now it’s time for the designer to take on world hunger with the U.N.’s World Food Programme. On the docket: A T-shirt with the campaign’s “Watch Hunger Stop” slogan, plus two custom watches, sales from which will benefit the charity. “This is our first global philanthropic initiative!” Kors told us. Starting next month, the unisex watches, each of which will feed 100 hungry tots, will be sold online. Food for thought, non?
How are you feeling about your stock reaching an all-time high this week?
I’m very pleased! It’s nice when the consumer votes ‘yay.’
Let’s talk about this collection.
Life as we know it in New York is always fast, but I think it’s gotten faster and faster. We’re juggling so many devices, bags, cups, and all of this. I always feel like you have to be an athlete to live in a big city. I really wanted to take the athletic attitude and mix it with an uptown polish! Everywhere in the world people are living a fast life. They’re crazy, and busy, but want things that function and move. At the same time, who wants to give up indulgence, sex appeal and luxury?
Do you have a favorite Manhattan ‘hood?
I’m definitely a Greenwich Village boy. As much as I love to see different buildings go up, the scale of the village gives me a moment to exhale. It’s my neck of the woods. Always has been.
What’s your favorite street there?
Grove Street is pretty fabulous! So is St. Luke’s Place.
We’ve spotted you at Marie’s Crisis on Grove Street…
I love it there!
What’s your favorite show tune to sing there?
Everyone always thinks that Michael Kors is only happy, happy, happy, but I do love sad songs. There’s a song called “Hard Candy Christmas” from The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Dolly Parton, and all the girls who work for her in the show, are leaving the chicken ranch—It’s this big, communal sob! Oh, and “New York, New York”!