MICHAEL KORS
Heart of gold
FASHION LOVERS IN Jakarta have come to know the Michael Kors brand well since it opened its first Jakarta store at Plaza Senayan in 2012. The Michael Kors Lifestyle store carries the renowned American designer’s full range of ready-to-wear collections, including the Michael Kors collection and the Michael Michael Kors label. In addition, there are watches, jewellery, footwear and eyewear selections galore.
The boutique was designed by the Michael Kors in-house team to reflect the label’s chic aesthetic, featuring the use of zebra-print furniture, sleek metal fixtures and mirrored surfaces. Glossy, large-scale vintage photos cover the walls, evoking jetset glamour and timeless sophistication. The brand has gone on to open a shop-in-shop at Galeries Lafayette at Pacific Place last year.
What the public may not know about the man behind the brand is that, as well as being a brilliant fashion designer, he is also a man with a heart of gold. He has been involved in numerous philanthropic endeavours, including Watch Hunger Stop, a partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme. Its decadeslong commitment to God’s Love We Deliver (GLWD) reflects deep admiration for the work done by this remarkable organisation, which is the New York metropolitan area’s leading provider of life-sustaining meals and nutrition counselling for people with serious illnesses.
On October 16, GLWD hosted the 2014 Golden Heart Awards at Spring Studios in New York City. The evening featured cocktails, a dinner, an awards presentation and a live auction attended by 740 guests. The sold-out evening helped raised over US$3.9 million, by far the most successful event in GLWD history.
The night also saw Anna Wintour, Condé Nast Artistic Director and Vogue Editor-in-Chief, presented with the Michael Kors Award for Outstanding Community Service. In his introduction, Kors delighted the audience by announcing a gift for her longtime support of GLWD. The gift funds the Anna Wintour Volunteer Center. This is to be built within the new GLWD headquarters, which has been named The Michael Kors Building.
“The amazing thing about Anna is her unwavering willingness to get involved in a cause she believes in, to make an impact, to find answers and to make sure all those around her are just as focused,” said Kors at the event. “I’ve never met anyone who has more of a roll up your sleeves and find a solution kind of attitude than Anna, and GLWD is a roll up your sleeves and find a solution kind of organisation.”
Leslie Moonves, President and CEO of CBS Corporation, received the Golden Heart Award for Lifetime Achievement. This was presented by Halle Berry, the Academy Awardwinning actress and United Nations World Food Programme Honorary Partner.
Kors also presented Richard E. Feldman a Golden Heart for Outstanding Volunteerism. Feldman has worked with GLWD for more than 25 years, serving in various board capacities, including Chair. He currently serves on the GLWD Chairman’s Council.