Tory Burch's Travel Secrets

Fashion designer Tory Burch, whose Spring/Summer 2019 Collection was inspired by her family's travel to exotic destinations from India and Marrakech to the Mediterranean, talks with Indagare about where she finds her design inspiration, her latest collection, the most surprising thing she brought back from a trip, what’s always in her carry-on and more.

is a constant inspiration. From driving through the Atlas Mountains to visiting Yves Saint Laurent’s gardens to wandering through the souks...there are vibrant colors everywhere you look. My parents honeymooned at La Mamounia 50 years ago, so it is sentimental as well. My design team and I have also taken several trips to India. Everything is saturated—from the bold tones of the saris, the flowers, the rugs, the spices. And in Northern India the intricacies of the architecture are breathtaking.

What trip changed your life?

I traveled abroad in college on Semester at Sea, a four-month boat trip that started in Spain and ended in Japan, stopping in 14 countries. Many of the places we visited were developing countries—it made me realize that I wanted to make a difference. That experience was the starting point for the Tory Burch Foundation.

Why is travel important to you?

Travel allows me to be fully present. It opens you up to the possibility of discovering something unexpected.

It’s hard to choose just one. I have been fortunate to have had many—summiting Machu Picchu at sunrise with my boys; fly-fishing at Brush Creek in Wyoming; visiting a hidden fish market at 4 a.m. in Tokyo—sushi is good at any hour.

Where are you headed next?

The next three months are seriously busy–Tokyo, Mexico City, Chicago, London, Atlanta.