Breaking news in the fashion industry made Michael Kors’ lecture “Taking it to the Next Level” seem prophetic Thursday.

Kors’ own fashion line took a big step toward its future yesterday when a portion of it was purchased by Sportswear Holdings.

Karen Bakke, chairwoman of the fashion and design department of The College of Visual and Performing Arts, said she had to change her opening remarks after seeing the news in The New York Times when she opened the paper in the morning.

Kors said yesterday was the most exciting day of his business career. All creative control of the Kors clothing line will stay with Kors. He will still be involved with the day-to-day decisions of the company all the way down to the smallest details, including the way the shopping bags will look, he said.

“You need to be a control freak to be a designer,” he said.

Kors told students they may have been surprised to hear him begin his lecture talking about business, but fashion is a business.

The sale of a major part of his company will not affect his designing of the “Celine” line of clothing from Paris until his contract runs out next year, and it is uncertain if he will continue with the line after that. Kors’ “Celine” line is based out of Paris and his Kors line is based out of New York City.

“Fashion can turn in a day, a year is a long time,” he said.

Kors described the various venues he has gone through in his career from working in a small shop in New York City to starting his own label at the age of 21 with one employee, which has become known worldwide and now employs hundreds.

“He has changed venues but not style,” Bakke said.

Kors, who was lecturing in Slocum Hall, said there is no definition of what to do to be successful in the fashion industry but success in the fashion industry is the culmination of years of consistency. Kors gave those in the audience who someday want to be in his position a few “golden rules” to follow. He said it is important to be honest with oneself about improvements that must be made in design, be always thinking of a new ideas and be open to the fact that things change very quickly in the fashion industry.

“Part of the job is to know what people want before they want it,” Kors said.

He said it is important to design for real people and that clothes have to be sensible for someone to wear.

Jessica Feder, a sophomore public relations major, said she loved Kors’ lecture and thought she learned a lot from it.

“I think he’s a very good person to follow as a model,” she said. “He knows what he is talking about.”

Published on January 30, 2003 at 12:00 pm