The preppy lifestyle has gone global. We feel that our business has grown so well because preppy travels so well. It's all-American classic.

In designing a lifestyle brand, you have to know more than just designing clothes.

I think if a young person is passionate about something specific, he or she should follow their passion. You look at Bill Gates or Steve Jobs, all of these successes in Silicon Valley, these people have had passion in a specific area and have therefore succeeded. College isn't for everyone. If you don't have that passion or that specific focus in mind, I believe you should go to university and get an education.

Good sportsmanship means treating others with respect. I consider myself a pretty good sport.

My mother was kind and forgiving and would take in all the waifs and strays in our neighbourhood; we always compared her to Mother Teresa. She taught me a lot.

There are many more important things in life than fashion. But fashion, to me, is part of pop culture. And I'm an art collector. I'm obsessed with art and pop culture. And I say that there is fame, fashion, art, music and entertainment, including celebrity, that really moves the needle in society.

I think it is really important to have a sense of business. As a designer you can get so wrapped up in the design and fashion side that you forget the business side.