Donna Karan
Donna Karan has built up one of the most successful American fashion houses over the last two decades. The brand is synonymous with elegant but practical style, so her clothes are worn by women all over the world.
Donna Karan studied design, but left college without completing her course in order to become an assistant at Anne Klein, a design firm. She became a designer there in 1974 following Klein’s death and won many awards for her work. She helped to launch Anne Klein II in 1983 – a line intended to close the gap between designer items and affordable fashion. The following year she launched Donna Karan New York with a collection aimed at working women.
She specialised in basic wardrobe items that every woman needs. In 1989 she launched DKNY, which offered a designer name at reasonable prices, making it affordable for the working woman who does not earn a six figure salary. Her ‘Essentials’ line added to the success of the brand, offering the consumer a basic collection of items that every wardrobe should have, such as bodysuits, jackets and jeans.
Donna Karan clothes are worn by many famous names including Barbra Streisand and Hillary Clinton, while her menswear collections are favoured by the likes of Richard Gere and Warren Beatty. The fashion collections are supplemented by home furnishings and body care products such as perfume.
There are around 30 Donna Karan boutiques worldwide, with the ready-to-wear collections also being made available in some department stores.
Donna Karan
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