Michael Kors has been named one of TIME's 100 most influential people.

The American designer was chosen for the magazine's annual list of the most important global figures thanks to his hugely successful fashion career, which saw him head up Celine as creative director before founding his own label in 2002.

In a special profile, fellow designer Zac Posen wrote: ''Michael is poised to become fashion's next billionaire. It takes a great deal of resilience and staying power to last for decades, and it's a testament to Michael's very clear vision.

''He's larger than life, a ball of energy and so warm and personable. It's his love of people, life and culture that exudes in his fashion globally.

''Michael takes the wonderful heritage of American sportswear into the future, translating it internationally for every woman and man who wants to be a part of the American Dream.''

Zac - who took over from Michael as a judge on 'Project Runway' last year - has long been a fan of the 53-year-old fashion mogul and has always aspired to have a creative empire as well respected as his.

He added: ''When I started designing fashion in high school, around 1996, Michael Kors was the epitome of the new look of American sportswear: elegant luxury, easy glamour and effortless chic.

''His clothes merged the worlds of fashion and accessibility, which isn't easy - there was a sense of cleanliness in his designs.''

Michael's inclusion on the 2013 TIME 100 list comes as no surprise after it emerged earlier this year the designer had beaten the likes of Marc Jacobs and Ralph Lauren to the title of most sought after fashion brand on the net, taking 19.6 per cent of 31 million global searches in 2012.