American Talent
The Greatest That Made It Great
American ingenuity architects
A chronicle of brilliance
Designer of chic garments: Donna Karan
The revolutionary ideas that Donna Karan brought to the fashion industry will never be forgotten. The way modern women dress may be traced back to her notion of a practical and chic clothing system. Karan is a fashion icon, and his work shows how new ideas can change the industry and the world.
Donna Karan is a household name in the fashion industry, and she is credited for ushering in a new era of feminine elegance. She revolutionized the way women dress by combining practicality and aesthetic appeal with her groundbreaking 'Seven Easy Pieces' concept.
Donna Ivy Faske was born on October 2, 1948, in Forest Hills, New York, and it was there that she first encountered the world of fashion. Her early interest in fashion could be attributed to her mother (a model) and stepfather (a tailor). She went on to study at Parsons, which is widely regarded as the best fashion school in the United States.
Starting off at Anne Klein as an associate designer, Karan swiftly ascended through the ranks to become the company's head designer after Klein's untimely death in 1974. Karan, together with her collaborator Louis Dell'Olio, successfully continued the Anne Klein label throughout the 1980s.
Karan introduced her Donna Karan New York (DKNY) clothing line to the world in 1984. Her 'Seven Easy Pieces' concept, in which a small number of versatile garments may be used to form a versatile wardrobe, was first shown here. This fresh approach won over the hearts of today's working women in a big way.
Karan's success with DKNY prompted the launch of a more affordable line of clothes, DKNY Jeans, in 1989, as well as several more collections bearing the DKNY label, including lines for men and children. Her collections captured the vitality and dynamism of New York City while remaining simple, comfortable, and functional.
Karan has received widespread acclaim for his contributions to the fashion business. She entered the Coty Hall of Fame in 1984 after having already won the Coty American Fashion Critics' Award in 1977. In 1985, she also took home her first of several CFDA prizes from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Karan is well-known not only for her fashion sense, but also for her humanitarian work, particularly the Urban Zen program, which seeks to combine healthcare with wellness, education, and cultural preservation.
Donna Ivy Faske was born on October 2, 1948, in Forest Hills, New York, and it was there that she first encountered the world of fashion. Her early interest in fashion could be attributed to her mother (a model) and stepfather (a tailor). She went on to study at Parsons, which is widely regarded as the best fashion school in the United States.
Starting off at Anne Klein as an associate designer, Karan swiftly ascended through the ranks to become the company's head designer after Klein's untimely death in 1974. Karan, together with her collaborator Louis Dell'Olio, successfully continued the Anne Klein label throughout the 1980s.
Karan introduced her Donna Karan New York (DKNY) clothing line to the world in 1984. Her 'Seven Easy Pieces' concept, in which a small number of versatile garments may be used to form a versatile wardrobe, was first shown here. This fresh approach won over the hearts of today's working women in a big way.
Karan's success with DKNY prompted the launch of a more affordable line of clothes, DKNY Jeans, in 1989, as well as several more collections bearing the DKNY label, including lines for men and children. Her collections captured the vitality and dynamism of New York City while remaining simple, comfortable, and functional.
Karan has received widespread acclaim for his contributions to the fashion business. She entered the Coty Hall of Fame in 1984 after having already won the Coty American Fashion Critics' Award in 1977. In 1985, she also took home her first of several CFDA prizes from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
Karan is well-known not only for her fashion sense, but also for her humanitarian work, particularly the Urban Zen program, which seeks to combine healthcare with wellness, education, and cultural preservation.
