Michael Kors Talks Fashion Origins, Project Runway Return
In this new “Savage Fashion” podcast episode, WWD’s chief content officer Jim Fallon and fashion director Alex Badia sat down with Michael Kors to discuss his fashion-obsessed childhood, industry success and return to "Project Runway." The session was filmed at the newly renovated and recently reopened Waldorf Astoria Hotel in New York.
Kors discussed his brand aesthetic and how it responds to the different sides of his fashion consumer. “I’m a bit of a contradiction myself. I am super casual but I love luxury and I love indulgence. I’m either the life of the party or I’m a loner. I’m levelheaded but silly.”
Kors' turn as a permanent judge on the hugely popular “Project Runway” for its first 10 seasons not only spotlighted the Michael Kors global brand and its nascent Michael Michael Kors line, but also opened up the world to better understand fashion. "I've had parents tell me that their children, who were 5 or 6, were watching the show and saying, 'This is what I want to do,'" he said. Kors will return this season as a one-time guest judge.
Additionally, Fallon and Badia discussed the latest fashion news, with second-quarter earnings reporting from luxury groups largely in decline.
Read more about the episode at WWD.
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Inside SJ Denim's 'Made in America' Report
Is there anything more quintessentially American than blue jeans? Denim is so entrenched in the American psyche that it can be easy to forget that most jeans have been manufactured overseas for decades.
To explore this disconnect—and to dive into the trials and tribulations of bringing domestic denim manufacturing back—WWD sister publication Sourcing Journal themed its Summer SJ Denim edition the “Made in America” Issue.
In this episode, Angela Velasquez, Sourcing Journal's executive editor and denim editor, chats with Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, about what Made in America denim really means.
Read the report HERE.
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Chatting with Willy Chavarria After His Paris Show
Having completed the Men's Spring/Summer 2026 show circuit in Milan and Paris, James Fallon, WWD chief content officer, and Alex Badia, WWD style director, touch on the season's latest news and fashion direction, filmed live at the Four Seasons Hotel Georges V Paris.
They then sat down for a heartfelt chat with Mexican-American designer Willy Chavarria, fresh off his second show ever in Paris. Chavarria gets real about his collection, social activism, family, the savage nature of the business itself, and the impact he hopes to leave upon it.
"My position in fashion is very much about, quite honestly, changing the game," said Chavarria. "People feel and think so differently, and it's moving so fast that we have to start to change. So many of us are afraid of that change, but I think it's imperative, and I hope to be a leader in that."
Watch the full video on WWD:
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Inside SJ's Material Innovation Report
Material innovation takes two forms. You can develop new alt materials that have less impact on the planet, or you can take existing fossil fuel-based materials and develop circular recycling systems to keep them out of landfills and use them again. Both innovations are exciting and both are hard.
The good news is that VC funding in the green space has bounced back, albeit with a more selective approach that shifts the investing vibe from "gold rush" to "growth state."
In this episode, Alex Harrell, sustainability and innovation reporter of WWD sister publication Sourcing Journal, chats with Lauren Parker, director, Fairchild Studio, about what's new and what's next in material innovation, what "innovation tourism" is and why it's slowing progress.
Download SJ's Material Innovation Report: https://bit.ly/4lHK5DU
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Following Through on Size Inclusivity
A lot of fashion brands claim to care about size inclusivity – some offer capsule collections or limited extensions, but few have built their entire business around serving this consumer. FullBeauty Brands has done just that – not just recently, but for over 120 years.
Today, the company is a leading force in size-inclusive fashion, home to more than a dozen brands across apparel, intimates, swim and lifestyle – each serving a deeply loyal and historically underserved customer. In just the past two years, FullBeauty’s has also been on an acquisition tear, adding names like Eloquii, Avenue, Cuup and Dia & Co., to its portfolio.
In this episode of WWD Voices for Retail Rx, Ian Fredericks, president and CEO of Hilco Consumer-Retail, chats with Jim Fogarty, CEO of FullBeauty Brands, about the opportunity, momentum and responsibility that comes with leading a truly inclusive fashion business at scale.
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Welcome to WWD Voices, where you will find news, commentary, and industry insights as well as behind-the-scenes stories from the world of fashion apparel, retail, luxury, and beauty. Hosted by WWD editors with special guests.
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