About Donna Karan ( DKNY ):

In 1949, Fashion designer Donna Karan was born in Queens, New York. She grew up in Long Island with her step-father, who was a tailor, and her mother, who was a model. In 1985, after years of extensive training and valuable experience, Donna Karan founded her own company. Donna Karan is an American fashion designer and the creator of the Donna Karan New York and DKNY clothing labels. Karan began her career as an assistant designer with Anne Klein in the late 1960s, where she was eventually promoted to associate designer in 1971. As Klein's assistant, Karan was a participant in The Battle of Versailles Fashion Showon November 28, 1973. When Anne Klein herself died in 1974, Takihyo Corporation of Japan became the new owner and Karan, together with her former classmate and friend Louis Dell'Ollio, became head designer of the house. In 1984, Karan left Anne Klein and, together with her then husband Stephan Weiss and Takihyo Corporation, started her own business "to design modern clothes for modern people". She showed her first women's clothing collection in 1985.

How Karan meets that challenge can run from the simplicity of a bodysuit (where it all began) to the artisan glamour of a limited edition hand-painted devore dress. Whatever form the design takes, Karan will tell you it begins and ends with the body - its sensual expression, sense of security, and freedom of movement.

A modern system of dressing, Karan’s concept is based on seven easy pieces, where a handful of interchangeable items work together to create an entire wardrobe that goes from day to evening, week day to weekend, season to season. "I’m designing for an international man and woman. A creative person who never knows where a day is going to take them," says Karan. "That’s why New York is on the label. It sets the pace, the attitude."

Speaking in a multi-cultural language of fashion, Karan is inspired by the life and innate style of the artist. Quintessential hallmarks include black cashmere, leather, stretch and molded fabrics, often developed by Karan, as well as silhouettes that wrap and sculpt the body. For Karan, it’s never been just about clothes; It’s about lifestyles. She sees the entire picture from head-to-toe, from function to aesthetic. Handbags and shoes are designed right alongside the clothes. "How do I dress the leg?" inspired Donna Karan Hosiery. "The right bra?" Donna Karan Intimates. "The perfect glasses?" Donna Karan Eyewear. The list goes on to include belts, accessories and, as Karan puts it, "Everything you need to pull yourself together."

Karan’s quest for the perfect jeans, as well as her desire to dress her daughter Gabby, resulted in the 1989 birth of DKNY. Fast fashion with an urban mind-set, DKNY is what Karan calls "the pizza to Collection’s caviar." DKNY grew so popular and diverse that other brands and labels spun from it, including DKNY Jeans, DKNY Active, DKNY Underwear, DKNY JEANS Juniors, and DKNY Kids. (Not surprisingly, Karan’s grandkids and friends’ kids had much to do with the latter). Like Collection, DKNY has an accessories and shoe collection to underscore its New York City street-smart look.

Karan became well known for her 'Essentials' line, initially offering seven easy pieces which could all be mixed and matched, and created a fully integrated wardrobe. Karan always insisted that she would only design clothes, like jersey dresses and opaque Lycra tights, that she would also wear herself.In 1988, Karan, nicknamed The Queen Of Seventh Avenue, extended her women's 'Donna Karan New York' line by creating a less expensive clothing line for younger women, called DKNY. Two years later, she created DKNY Jeans, a denim-inspired collection. DKNY for men was launched in 1992, one year after the 'Signature' line for men had been presented.

Throughout her long career, Karan’s peers have acknowledged her achievements with numerous accolades. The Council of Fashion Designers of America has saluted her six times; and most recently in 2010 she was nominated for their Womenswear Designer of the Year Award. In 2003, Karan was the first American designer to receive Fashion Group International's "Superstar Award." A year later, Karan's alma mater Parson's gave her an Honorary Doctorate to commemorate her contribution to the school and fashion industry, and in 2007, Glamour magazine named Karan one of their Women of the Year.

American designer Donna Karan introduced the DKNY collection in 1989 as a more affordable alternative to her namesake line. It's been rumored that she started DKNY after a fruitless search for jeans, and while the line does feature perfect-fit denim, it also includes a full range of looks from office-friendly day wear to after-hours party frocks.

The DKNY company was launched in 1985 by Donna Karan, a Parsons School of Design graduate and the head of the Anne Klein design team. The company includes clothing for both men and women, shoes, handbags, and accessories such as a skincare line, fragrances and watches. DKNY glasses are an important part of the DKNY Eyewear accessories line.

DKNY was founded in 1989, but really the story goes back a long way before that. The DKNY story is the Donna Karan story. Growing up on Long Island, Karan was raised by parents who both had a keen eye for fashion seeing as her father was a tailer and her mother was a sales representative for a fashion brand. In fact, Karan's talent was evident from an early age when she came up with her first fashion collection before she had even left high school. From that moment it was clear that an exciting career lay ahead of her.

After realising that there was a gap in the market, Karan launched DKNY in 1989. Her aim was to create sophisticated, slightly edgy clothing and accessories, and the brand was an instant hit.

Soon DKNY began to expand to take in other lines, including DKNY Jeans, DKNY Active and many others. The accessories line also grew to be very popular, and DKNY watches were soon seen as one of the most fashionable brands around. DKNY has always been about more than just watches, but one thing for sure is that DKNY watches are now seen as one of the most popular, stylish and high-quality watches in the world. DKNY watches focus on the same level of sophistication that is found throughout the range, but compared to some of the higher-end timepieces they still remain quite affordable.

This means that many people may be able to purchase one of these watches and enjoy everything that the DKNY brand represents, as well as being able to take advantage of a watch of the highest quality.