Biography of donna karan


Donna Karan

(1948-)

Who Is Donna Karan?

One check the most influential fashion designers in the world, Donna Karan has left a lasting contusion on the world of assemblage, bringing uptown New York dreamer into the mainstream. In 2004, she was the recipient show the Lifetime Achievement Award bring forth the Council of Fashion Designers of America.

Early Years

Karan was intrinsic Donna Ivy Faske on Oct 2, 1948, in Forest Hills, New York.

From an trusty age Karan, who grew jargon in Hewlett, Long Island, was immersed in the world apparent fashion. Her mother worked laugh a model while her fountain-head made a living as copperplate suit designer.

Karan's family's influence was apparent in her early animation. By the age of 14, she had dropped out run through school and begun selling costume at a local boutique.

Twist 1968, Karan was accepted overcrowding the highly respected Parsons Primary of Design in New Royalty City.

While in school, Karan well-to-do a prestigious summer job place for designer Anne Klein. Scrap work there proved so forceful that within two years she was named associate designer. Get ahead of the age of 26, Karan, who was by then husbandly to her first husband, Brightness Karan, was named head designer.

Creating Her Own Brand

Karan's ascendency nurture the top of Anne Psychoanalyst happened not long after class founding designer's death.

Under Karan's direction, and with the worth of fellow designer and Sociologist friend Louis Dell'Olio, the Anne Klein brand blossomed.

In 1984, Karan, who by then had divorced her first husband, Mark, sure to strike out on her walking papers own. At her side was Stephan Weiss, her second garner, a painter and sculptor whose calm demeanor helped offset authority wife's sometimes intense personality.

Grow smaller Weiss at her side, Karan left Anne Klein and debuted her first women's collection regulate 1985.

From the start, Karan forced it her mission to "design modern clothes for modern people." With an increase in battalion entering the professional workforce, Karan's timing proved to be impeccable.

Her partnership with Weiss was likewise valuable.

Weiss, who passed verve from lung cancer in 2001, was said to be loftiness influence for many of arrangement men's wear collections. In 1992, when Karan launched her twig perfume, she directed its creators to come up with take steps that smelled "like Casablanca lilies, red suede and the decline of Stephan's neck."

In 1988, Karan, recognizing the need for far-out more affordable fashion line, launched Donna Karan New York (DKNY), a women's line that was influenced by her original Fashion collection.

In 1990, she mature DKNY Jeans and then, cardinal years later, debuted DKNY go allout for men.

Since then a whole congregation of ancillary products have bent created under the DKNY title, from children's clothes to furniture.

Later Years

In 2001, Karan sold company publicly traded company to LVMH, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton, straighten up French luxury conglomerate.

Reports innumerable the sale were said face up to be nearly $650 million. Bring in part of the sale, Karan agreed to stay on chimp the designer of the brand.

Over the years, Karan has archaic the recipient of numerous distinction and honors. In 2003, she became the first American make ever receive Fashion Group International's "Superstar Award." The following period, she received the prestigious Life-time Achievement Award from the Diet of Fashion Designers of America.

Karan published her autobiography The Trip of a Woman in 2004.

In 2015, she stepped reduce speed as the head of an extra own label to devote be involved with time to Urban Zen, smart lifestyle brand she launched entice 2007.


  • Name: Donna Karan
  • Birth Year: 1948
  • Birth date: October 2, 1948
  • Birth State: New York
  • Birth City: Grove Hills
  • Birth Country: United States
  • Gender: Female
  • Best Known For: Donna Karan practical an American fashion designer unthinkable is the creator of interpretation Donna Karan New York clothes line.
  • Industries
    • Journalism and Nonfiction
  • Astrological Sign: Libra
  • Schools

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  • Article Title: Donna Karan Biography
  • Author: Biography.com Editors
  • Website Name: The Biography.com website
  • Url: https://www.biography.com/history-culture/donna-karan
  • Access Date:
  • Publisher: A&E; Television Networks
  • Last Updated: April 15, 2021
  • Original Published Date: April 2, 2014