Fashion isn't interesting when it comes from an uninspired place. It's like voodoo; we don't want things that are soaked in blood, sweat, and tears. I adore life, and I'm very easygoing - and it shows in my work.

I couldn't do anything without my crew. They're the people that put in the blood, sweat, and tears ? and they do bleed sometimes and they do sweat a lot. Forty-hour weeks are normal, 60-hour weeks are common, and 80-hour weeks are not unheard-of ? we do three or four of those a season.

I never wanted to design clothes. I never wanted to work for the fashion industry. Shoes sort of belong to the fashion industry, which is why I'm part of the fashion industry. But that's never been my thought. My thought since I was a child was really to design those shoes for girls on stage.

I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears and sweat.

Blood, sweat and tears is the difference between you and your competition.

Loyalty is a like a plant, it cannot be nurtured once, if it is to survive. Every now and then it must be watered with one's own blood, sweat and tears.