Donna Karan was born Donna Faske in Forest Hills, New York on October 2, 1948. Both her parents were involved in fashion careers, so it seemed inevitable that Donna should follow their footsteps. She was still a student at Parsons School of Design in New York when Anne Klein hired her for summer a job.

From 1967-1968 she was Assistant Designer for Anne Klein & Co, and the Addenda Co, NY. In 1968-1971 she was a Designer for Anne Klein & Co. In 1973 she married Mark Karan with whom she had a daughter named Gabrielle. (They would get a divorce later and Donna Karan would marry Stephen Weiss in 1977.)

With the death of Anne Klein in 1974, Donna Karan was named her successor. A year later, Louis Dell'Olio would join the company, and together they would be Director of Design for Anne Klein & Co.

Shortly after the launch of Anne Klein II (the diffusion line) left Anne Klein and together with her husband Stephen Weis, they formed Donna Karan New York (DKNY) and launched the first Donna Karan collection in 1985.

From there, they would expand to a full fashion items line.

In December 2000, LVMH announced its intention to buy a controlling share in DKNY and Donna Karan New York. Both companies became officially part of the LVMH stable during 2001.

Awards won by Donna Karan:

• Coty American Fashion Critics Award - 1977, 1981, 1984, 1985
• Fashion Footwear Association of New York Award 1988
• Council of Fashion Designers of America Award- 1985, 1986, 1990, 1992
• Woolmark Award - 1992
• Honorary Degree, Bachelor of Fine Arts Parsons School of Design, 1987

Fall 2006 (Photo by Giovanni Pucci)

DKNY Fall 2006 (Photo by Giovanni Pucci)

Website:
www.donnakaran.com

Address:
DONNA KARAN
550 Seventh Avenue
New York, NY 10018
Tel:(212) 789-1500

DKNY
240 West 40th Street
New York, NY 10018
P: 212-819-4060
F: 212-819-4050

NEW YORK PRESS:
DONNA KARAN/DKNY
Contact: Anjali Lewis
250 W. 40th St.
New York, NY 10018
Tel: 212-768-5885
Fax: 212-768-5750