Award winning fashion designer Michael Kaye has been dubbed “The Bonnie Prince of Tartan” and “The Titan of Tartan” by fashion journalists. Creating garments for some of America’s most wealthy, powerful, discerning and scrutinized women has driven Michael’s evolution.

In 2001 Michael Kaye Couture was formed with the objective of evolving the American Couture Philosophy for today’s lifestyle. He honed his design skills after graduating cum laude from New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology with design positions at several prestigious Seventh Avenue Fashion houses.

“It is through my passion of cut and fabrics that I am able to create garments of the highest quality,” says Kaye. His creativity ranges from lace, beading, ruffles and bias tartans to sleek modern double-faced crepe dress and coat styles.

Since 2003 Michael has shown in Sir Sean Conery’s “DRESSED TO KILT” where his love of Tartan and showmanship has been showcased. He has collaborated with the renowned Locharron of Scotland in creating a select group of tartan Evening gowns. In fact Michael had five gowns walk the runway in this year’s Spectacular show including one worn by Canadian Ice Dancing Champion Shae-Lynn Bourne.

Michael, a Canadian living in New York City for the past 21 years, plans to create fifteen Tartan gowns, one in each of the ten Canadian Provinces and Three Territories Tartans, and tour them across Canada. It was through Michael’s insistence that an official Tartan was created for Canada’s newest territory, Nunavut.

Harold Koda, the curator of New York’s Metropolitan Museum Of Art - Costume Institute, chose one of Michael’s tartan evening gowns to become part of this world famous institution’s permanent collection. His garments are also in the permanent collections of the Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology, The Royal Alberta Museum and the Human Ecology Collection at the University of Alberta.

Michael was notably included in the recently published book “Tartan Romancing the Plaid” written by Award winning designer Jeffrey Banks and Doria De La Chappele.

Michael was the proud recipient of The Fashion Group International’s “RISING STAR AWARD”. In January 2004 Patricia Field, costumer for the hit television series “Sex And The City” presented Michael with the award for WOMENS APPAREL.

His editorial to date includes Martha Stewart Weddings, Brides, Modern Bride, Inside Weddings, Town and Country, In Style, Women’s Wear Daily, W, The New York Times, Victoria Magazine, Gotham, Quest, MAR Magazine, and Western Living.

Michael’s view of American couture is an easy modern elegant lifestyle that in a short time period has been embraced by a roster of distinguished women of international style: Cece Cord (Best Dressed Hall of Fame Inductee), Judith Taubman, Countess Marie Beatrice Arko, Dr. Patricia Cayne, Lauren Veronis, Adrienne Vittadini, Grace Hightower DeNiro, Christine Schwarzman, Muffie Potter Aston, Countess Constance Saint Hilaire (Connie Milstein), Theresa Khawly, Susan Bodnar, Cynthia Lufkin, Mrs. Emeril Lagasse, Charlotte Bears and Martha Stewart are but a few of his clients.

In October of 2009 Michael‘s Jewelry Collection “Michael Kaye Bijoux” launched at Macy’s New York Flagship Store in Herald Square. It was a natural progression from his finely tailored clothing. All items come packaged in this signature Tartan bags. Macy’s Vice President Linda Lee describes the collection as “beautiful… current
and elegant all at once”.