My mom. She was quite a character. Open-minded. It was a very small town, and she started her own business, manufacturing children's wear. She was very dynamic. Her death was like the umbilical cord being cut. That's when I moved to America.

My resolution is to make positivity, thankfulness and happiness my new mantra.

I wanted to be involved with fashion, though I didn't know what being a designer meant.

I only do what I do. For me, it is a craft. It's got to be my own thing - otherwise, I would never be successful. I could easily go to the archives and pull 1987 or 1991 collection by Calvin Klein. But when you look in there, you realize that it was never about one piece. It was about the collections as bodies of work.

You think of luxury when you think of Calvin Klein. He created this lifestyle that's really desirable, so our whole project has that quality of being lasting.

I hope the average woman feels she needs practicality but with a little bit of fantasy. Otherwise it's just not fashion.

I don't love reading so much, but I love book shopping. It's just because I don't have much time.