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.

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.

Algebra looked like Chinese characters to me, and I could never get into reading Shakespeare. I just did not get it.

I had no confidence at school. I was not a good student and I really thought I was pretty stupid. Just dumb.

Fashion is about affordable luxury ... To succeed, designers need to be affordable, wearable, accessible, and aspirational.

I think it's dangerous to think that you're successful, because then you become complacent.

New York Fashion Week comes only twice a year, make it count