Guide Note

DKNY is a fashion label created by designer Donna Karan. Her luxurious yet comfortable line includes apparel, footwear, accessories, fragrances, and home furnishings.

Fast Facts

1. Founded: 1984
2. Stands for Donna Karan New York
3. Karan worked for Anne Klein
4. Gained fame for elastic bodysuits
5. Headquarters: Seventh Avenue in New York City
6. Purchased in 2001 by Moet Hennessey Louis Vuitton
7. Currently 70 DKNY stores
8. Apparel also sold at various high end department stores and online

About Donna Karan

Originally born Donna Ivy Faske in 1948, Karan studied at Parsons School of Design and left after two years to work with Anne Klein. Eventually she became head of the design team for Klein till 1989 after which she launched her own DKNY Essentials line and her Seven Easy Pieces line. During this time her name change came about after marrying Mark Karan. Keeping her name, she later married for a second time to Stephan Weiss who worked with the DKNY company, specializing in the DKNY cosmetics line. By 1995 Weiss stepped down from the company to concentrate on his passion, sculpting, and Karan left her position as CEO in 1997 while still remaining as chief designer.