donna karan

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Donna Karan

Donna Faske, an American fashion designer, was born on October 2nd,1948 in Forest Hills, New York. Raised by her mother and step-father in Hewlett, she graduated from Hewlett High school in 1966. She continued her studies at Parson`s School of Design.

After two years of studies Donna ( Faske )Karan, the so-called Queen Of Seventh Avenue, started working for Liz Claiborne. In the early 1970s she married Mark Karan and was hired by Anne Klein and was soon promoted to associate designer in 1971. When Anne Klein died in 1974 Takihyo Corporation of Japan became the proprietor of Donna Karan. She took over the leadership of the fashion house together with her friend Luis Dell`Ollio. Donna` s self-confidence allowed her to open her own fashion house with her husband and Takyhio Corporation` s support in 1984. A year later she presented her first women` s line.

She introduced modern clothes; especially collection of elastic bodysuits brought her fame. The most innovative ideas were presented in her Essentials line consisting of seven simple pieces of clothing which could be mixed and matched.

In the 1980s she left her husband and married a sculptor, Stephen Weis in 1983.

The demands of the-1980s-customers` were clear: there was the need for the functional clothing in strict colours. Her modern, sophisticated and elegant designs dedicated to ‘the business classes’ fulfilled these expectations and experienced marvellous success. The jersey and opaque lycra were her favourite materials.

DKNY was introduced in 1988. As the business flourished she decided to aim at designing for younger women what resulted in the extension of the women` s Signature Collection by a less expensive line.

Karan was denoted as the first designer who successfully established a bridge collection. DKNY Jeans for women was released in 1990 and the line for men two years later. Her husband became a vice-president and later was responsible for the company’s cosmetics business. In 1995 he resigned from the position to concentrate on his art work. The collection was broadened and completed by a children` s collection, cosmetics, accessories, and furniture. The annual turnover of $96,6 million in 1991 rose up to $510,1 million in 1995. The most wanted items are the DKNY lines which cover more than half of the sales, than couture 15% of the sales. Men` s clothing, accessories, and cosmetics generate 30% of the profit.

Donna Karan remained a chairwoman and a designer of Donna Karan line. In fact, the nowadays line is created by a gifted designer, Peter Speliopoulus. The roles in the company are divided among: a fashion designer, Jane Chung who creates the complete DKNY; Liz Claiborne, who markets the DKNY Jeans. Estee Lauder is responsible for the cosmetics business. In 1997 there was signed the licensing deals with Wacoal America for men’s and women` s DKNY intimate clothing, Esprit for DKNY children` s clothing, Phillips Van Heusen for DKNY men` s garment, Mallroy & Church for DKNY ties and hosiery, Peerless clothing for DKNY suits and sportswear, and finally Max Leather for belts and small leather goods.

Weiss had been suffering from lung cancer for seven years before he died in 2001. One of his latest works, a three-ton apple has been installed on the West Side Highway in New York. The flacon Karan` s latest perfume reminds the shape of an apple. Weiss` s former studio now serves as a cultural gallery for various events.

In 2006, Mark Weber has become CEO of Donna Karan International.

The first shop was opened in 1999 at Madison Avenue and 60th in New York. There are numerous shops in metropolitan cities all over the world. Donna Karan` s clients can find their boutiques in New York, Costa Mesa, Singapore, Fukuoka, Tokyo, Riyadh, Jeddah, and Dubai. The Donna Karan shop in Berlin was recently closed. The DKNY shops are principally situated in shopping malls in New York, Costa Mesa, Short Hills, Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Denver.

There are international outlets in London, Antwerp, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Dubai, Tel Aviv and Montreal and even in Cancun, Barcelona, Ankara, Manchester, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Beirut. What is more, Donna Karan Company stores within the shopping malls which sell less expensive goods.

The Donna Karan headquarters is located at 550 Seventh Avenue and 240 W. 40th Street in New York City.

Donna Karan as a successful and distinguished fashion designer won several notable prizes. The first significant award came in 1977 when she won the Coty American Fashion Critics` s Award what was repeated in 1982. The designer was honoured when her name entered the Coty Hall Of Fame in 1984. She was announced a ‘Men `s wear Designer of the Year 1992’ and again in 1996 a ‘Women` s wear Designer of the Year’ by The Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2003 she was again a nominee for the latter award. In 2004 she was honoured with the ‘Lifetime Achievement Award’ by The Council of Fashion Designers of America.