Michael Kors, which has been highly vocal in recent days on racism and police brutality, is aiming for a different pace than continuing to follow a grueling fashion calendar. Image credit: Michael Kors
Michael Kors has joined a slew of rebel designers in renouncing the hurried fashion week hoopla for a slower-pace, two-collection showing at a time of his choice.
The New York-based designer, whose self-named company is part of Capri Holdings, said he will not present his fashion show during New York Fashion Week in September. Instead, the brand’s spring/summer 2021 Michael Kors Collection will be presented between mid-October and mid-November 2020, with a format that is work in progress.
“I have for a long time thought that the fashion calendar needs to change,” Mr. Kors said in a statement.
“It’s exciting for me to see the open dialogue within the fashion community about the calendar – from Giorgio Armani to Dries Van Noten to Gucci to YSL to major retailers around the globe – about ways in which we can slow down the process and improve the way we work,” he said.
“We’ve all had time to reflect and analyze things, and I think many agree that it’s time for a new approach for a new era.”
The move comes three weeks after Kering-owned Italian fashion label Gucci said it would trim the number of fashion shows and collections, reducing the focus on seasons (see story).
My Spring Collection was all about positivity and optimism, which is something we could all use a little of right now. -xo MK #MichaelKorsCollection pic.twitter.com/fNv4XlVrsn
— Michael Kors (@MichaelKors) May 28, 2020
Par for the course
Going forward, the Michael Kors Collection will present and produce two collections per year: spring/summer and fall/winter.
The goal is to have a more streamlined approach on the sales floor.
Deliveries of the Michael Kors Collection product will hit stores incrementally over the spring/summer and fall/winter seasons, the brand said, hewing closer to how customers currently live and shop.
“It is imperative that we give the consumer time to absorb the fall deliveries, which will just be arriving in September, and not confuse them with an overabundance of additional ideas, new seasons, products and images,” Mr. Kors said.
“Prior to the late 1990s, the New York spring collections were shown from late October to the beginning of November, after the Paris collections,” he said.
“That calendar was in place for many decades and worked quite smoothly, and particularly in this age with the speed of social media, showing the collection closer to when it will be delivered makes logical sense to me.
“I think it is also important to return to the idea that September and March are key months in launching the beginning of seasonal selling for the consumer.
“This is when key editorial and media content hit, when the weather is starting to change, and when people are ready to absorb new collections and product that they can wear and shop immediately.
“Keeping all of this in mind, we will also be reassessing when the fall/winter collection is released to the press and the public, most likely sometime between mid-March and mid-April.”
IN ANOTHER KEY change, Michael Kors will sell the collection to retailers prior to when the apparel, footwear and accessories are revealed publicly and to the media.
This move, ostensibly, will give the supply chains and factories the appropriate time to produce and ship new product at a healthier pace, the brand said.
Of course, it would also protect the latest collections from being knocked off within weeks by rivals and fast-fashion brands with a quicker turnaround.
“I feel that these changes are long overdue and will be a huge win-win, most importantly for the consumer,” Mr. Kors said.
At Home with Elle magazine editor in chief Nina Garcia and fashion designer Michael Kors