Few names evoke American fashion as powerfully as Michael Kors. The 40th anniversary of the firm has pushed its founder to go back to his first years in the business and reflect on what it means to start as a designer in the great city that is New York. Hence their association with Ashya, a small brand based in Brooklyn, to serve as a springboard in their conquest of the masses.
"On the occasion of the firm's 40th anniversary last year, I reflected on my beginnings in the business and the challenges facing young brands today," explains Kors, who has chosen the young American-Jamaican duo formed by Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece to create a limited edition of two exclusive bags.
"I think after what we've been through globally, we're all excited to see what's next," adds Kors. "The past few years have highlighted the importance of working together and supporting our communities. That's what fashion is for me, and New York is too. Partnering with an up-and-coming brand is a way to foster that sense of togetherness and shelter." to new points of view.
When the object of this collaboration, Michael Kors and the duo exchanged offices (Cimone and Annece went to Michael Kors's in Manhattan and Kors visited their studio in Industry City, Brooklyn) to assimilate each other's aesthetics and DNA. "Our brands started in New York and are very connected to this city, but we also share a curiosity about the world and love to travel," said Kors.
For the occasion, Kors has created the Saga print with Ashya, customized with the iconic MK logo and inspired by West African weaving techniques. For Ashya, putting fabrics at the center of the story is something innate, and his main influence in this collaboration has been the lines and shapes of African fabrics. The common point among the designers is their relaxed approach to luxury. "Michael's orientation towards understated luxury has always appealed to us from the beginning of his career. We also pursue understated luxury, so it was easy for us to stay true to Ashya," explains Cimone.
The bags, which cover some of Ashya's models, are unisex and can be worn in many ways, some of which have yet to be discovered. This is, for Kors, one of the biggest draws: "I love that the bags are streamlined, that they can be combined in different ways and that they can be used both for traveling and for going out on the town," she says. Along the same lines, Cimone points out that "our clients and friends of the brand often come up with new ways of carrying the bags." The Multi Bag is priced at $498 and sells for $498 and the $298 Bolo Bag for $298.
