Don’t Michael Kors Yourself

Karina Shumy
Jul 25, 2017 · 2 min read

We might soon see a line of shoes labelled Jimmy by Jimmy Choo, unless Michael Kors has learned its lesson. Today, the brand announced that it was to buy Jimmy Choo for 1.2 billion. This news came to me by way of a friend, who knows my dislike of anything with a big “MK” plastered on it.

With a Michael by Michael Kors bag or wallet strapped to the arm of every college girl in the nation (with the exception of bow-loving sorority girls, who have switched out their Vera Bradley totes for whatever Kate Spade has been shelling out lately), few people associate the brand with anything besides its discount line, which takes inspiration from luxury designers and retails in outlet stores nationwide, as well as its own boutiques. That’s because Michael Kors made the mistake of over-saturating the market with a relatively accessible line of products.

Many people, like my friend, are surprised to learn that there are, in fact, Michael Kors bags at a high price point. Labelled “Michael Kors Collection,” these bags are more along the lines of how this brand started. They’re original, un-obnoxious, and made of high quality materials — but the people who can afford them don’t want to buy them, because the brand’s name has been tainted.

Michael Kors Collection (also severely discounted…)

Michael Kors isn’t the only brand guilty of cheapening itself through reduction of quality and over-saturation of the market (the latter is also known as “too much availability”). Coach is another example, but Michael Kors is, in my opinion, the most irritating.

Now, there’s a lesson we can all learn from this (yes, this was a setup for a giant metaphor). Don’t ever sell yourself short. If you are putting all of your effort into being the best you can be, doing your best work, etc., you should not accept anything less than the proper respect and compensation.

Do not sell out in an attempt to become popular, or to make people who don’t “get” you, get you. Don’t spread yourself thin; be selective about the people you dedicate your time and energy and efforts to. If someone doesn’t see your worth, that’s their problem. It is not your job to make people love you, or to please everyone. You are uniquely crafted for a discerning eye, not meant to please a mass market.