At the age of 20, she took a job with fashion industry legend Anne Klein. Her rise at Anne Klein was phenomenal. She instantly found her niche and was able to thrive in the Klein organization. Her energy, determination, and perfectionism helped her to succeed at Klein and later to prosper in her own design business when the industry was largely dominated by men. Anne Klein, who became a sort of idol to Karan, was known as extremely demanding and a perfectionist.
It was those common qualities that drew the two women together; after only four years of working together, Karan had become Klein's successor. In , at the age of 26, she gave birth to her daughter, Gabby. Tragically, just one week after Gabby's birth, Anne Klein died. As Klein's respected protege, Karan was her natural successor.
Karan was elevated to head of design and credited with preserving the Klein name and building up the company during the next ten years. In the two designers launched a successful line of clothes for working women dubbed "Anne Klein II" , targeted at the lower-priced market.
This success, along with the desire to have more creative control, influenced her decision to start her own company. Anne Klein was owned at the time by Japanese textile conglomerate Takihyo. Takihyo's executives were open to the idea of Karan branching out, but she was hesitant to leave the security of Klein.
To force her to take the next step, Karan's boss, Frank Mori, fired her in By Karan had divorced her first husband and was married to sculptor Stephan Weiss, and the two teamed up as co-chief executives of the new design company. Karan showed her first collection at her own fashion show in , just six months after leaving her post at Klein.
The crowd greeted the line with wild applause, whistles, and a standing ovation. The market reacted similarly, generating a huge early demand for Karan's apparel. The major appeal of the clothing was offering working women an elegant, classic alternative to the often quixotic, fanciful, and sometimes uncomfortable designs of the day.
Throughout the middle and late s Karan was a savvy risk-taker: breaking new ground by designing practical, comfortable, refined clothing that made women look good, and shying away from bizarre, jaw-dropping fashions and tacky frills. Signature designs included easy-fitting jackets, wrap skirts, and one-piece silk bodysuits. Karan became increasingly known for her ability to create skirts, pants, and other clothing to complement a woman's figure, even if she was not as thin as a model.
The down-to-earth approach was well received in the market, where Karan's style was considered refreshing. By the later years of the decade Karan relied primarily on her Donna Karan New York collection of upscale clothing, originally launched in In Karan jumped into the very competitive hosiery business, convinced women would be willing to spend more money for better quality hosiery.
Critics balked, but Karan and partner Hanes developed a hosiery that was twice as thick and twice as expensive as what was currently available. Customers were indeed willing to pay for the quality and Karan's hosiery products were well received.
The DKNY line was designed to provide stylish, casual, and affordable clothing for a less elite market segment. The apparel was still relatively expensive but it brought an entirely new and much broader range of buyers to Karan designs. The line, which was craftily marketed on a background of black-and-white cityscapes that enhanced its urban nature, was one of the most successful launches in fashion history.
Karan's increasing influence on the fashion scene had earned her the title "The Queen of Seventh Avenue" with the press, and the Donna Karan name was considered "red hot" in the apparel retailing industry. Encouraged by the gains, Karan and Weiss pushed ahead with plans for new products ranging from fragrance and accessories to children's clothing.
Karan also hoped for further international expansion, since the company had started selling clothes in Germany and Japan as early as , and had opened a chic London boutique in To help make the transition from a family-owned business to a more conventional corporate entity, Karan brought in apparel industry pro Stephen Ruzow, a former Warnaco executive.
Among other tasks, Ruzow was hired to eliminate production problems and increase quality control. As the company continued to grow, so did Karan's reputation within the industry and she was once again awarded CFDA's prestigious Designer of the Year award in Karan and Weiss extended the design house's reach further with the introduction of men's clothing under Donna Karan New York, then another line under the DKNY label the following year. Critics scoffed at the lines, claiming men would never wear clothes designed by a woman--and yet again they were proved wrong.
Is DKNY a man? The nose behind this fragrance is IFF. Top notes are ginger and mandarin orange; middle notes are ivy and juniper; base notes are sandalwood and maple. Where are DKNY products made?
DKNY has openly displayed that its products are primarily made in China, although some of its items are reported to be manufactured in Italy. Who is the richest designer in the world?
What does FCUK stand for? French Connection United Kingdom. Are DKNY bags real leather? Crafted with luxe lamb leather, this polished shoulder bag accented with geometric chevron stitching pairs as easily with a work-ready look as it does with an off-duty one. Whether you style it with a blazer and slacks or dark-wash denim, its subtle details shine.
Is Kate Spade a luxury bag? Well, just like cars, the fashion industry has varying levels of luxury. Kate Spade, Michael Kors and Coach are entry level luxury or affordable luxury. Is Coach a luxury brand? Coach has become a luxury brand again — but Wall Street wants more.
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