DKNY
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Fashion |
| Founded | 1989 |
| Founder | Donna Karan |
| Headquarters | New York City , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
| Products | Apparel, footwear, accessories, fragrances |
| Owner | G-III Apparel Group |
| Parent | G-III Apparel Group |
| Website | dkny |
DKNY is an American fashion label based in New York City, catering to both men and women. Established in 1984 by Donna Karan, the brand provides a diverse assortment of fashion items, encompassing apparel, footwear, accessories, and fragrances.
History
Donna Karan dedicated 15 years to Anne Klein, including a decade as the lead designer. In 1984, together with her late husband Stephan Weiss and with backing from Takihyo LLC—the proprietor of Anne Klein—she launched her own company.
The firm became publicly traded in 1996. Five years later, in 2001, it was purchased by the French luxury group LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy). Donna Karan exited her role as chief designer in 2015 to concentrate on her Urban Zen label and philanthropic pursuits. The following year, LVMH divested Donna Karan International—which encompassed both 'Donna Karan' and 'DKNY' brands—to G-III Apparel Group for $650 million. Headquartered in New York City, G-III is engaged in manufacturing and distributing apparel and accessories across owned, licensed, and private label brands.
Donna Karan New York
The primary label Donna Karan New York, also referred to as Donna Karan Collection, debuted in fall 1985 with the women's "Seven Easy Pieces" collection—a range of versatile wardrobe staples designed for mix-and-match wear. Donna Karan introduced her initial menswear line in July 1991. The inclusion of "New York" in the brand name reflects the fashion house’s dynamic spirit and urban energy.
DKNY and other divisions
Motivated by her daughter Gaby, Donna Karan launched DKNY in 1989 as a youthful, more accessible diffusion line complementing Donna Karan New York. This brand evolved into several sub-labels such as DKNY Jeans, DKNY Active, DKNY Underwear, DKNY Juniors, DKNY Kids, DKNY Pure, and DKNY Men (introduced in 1992), which features tailored suits, formal attire, casual clothing, sportswear, and footwear.
The Donna Karan Beauty line, specializing in fragrances, was introduced in 1992. In 2001, Donna Karan Home entered the market with luxury bedding and home accessories, accompanied by the modern DKNY Home collection.
DKNY’s marketing campaigns have showcased renowned photographers like Collier Schorr alongside prominent models including Cara Delevingne, Emily Ratajkowski, and Kaia Gerber, strengthening its brand visibility.
Stores
Donna Karan inaugurated retail locations in London (1997) and New York City (1999). The DKNY corporate office is situated at 550 Seventh Avenue in Manhattan. Worldwide, there are seventy Donna Karan and DKNY outlets, including twenty stores across China (Hong Kong and Shanghai), two in Canada (Vancouver and Montreal), four in Dubai, two in Doha, as well as shops located in Denmark.
Since 2005, customers have had access to online shopping for DKNY and affiliated lines via the official website. The product range includes womenswear from DKNY and DKNY Jeans, along with accessories, underwear, footwear, infant apparel, the PURE line, and menswear—although post-2002 menswear offerings have been limited to DKNY Jeans, underwear, eyewear, and watches.
Controversy
In 2013, DKNY was involved in a dispute over unauthorized use of street photography by Brandon Stanton—the New York City photographer behind Humans of New York (HONY)—displayed within one of its retail stores. Stanton requested a $100,000 contribution to support YMCA summer programs. Following public backlash, DKNY issued an apology and contributed $25,000. Stanton then encouraged his HONY community to help raise the remaining funds, successfully meeting the target by March 1, 2013.
In July 2016, LVMH—the French luxury conglomerate that had owned Donna Karan’s company since 2001—discontinued the flagship Donna Karan International line shortly after Karan’s departure in 2015. LVMH announced a strategic realignment focusing on the DKNY brand, recognized for Karan’s impactful “Seven Easy Pieces” concept. Nevertheless, after several months of disappointing performance under new creative directors Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne, LVMH sought a "single, specific American buyer" for both DKNY and Donna Karan International.
Ultimately, LVMH sold DKNY to G-III Apparel Group in 2016 for $650 million—a notable milestone in the brand’s corporate evolution.
External links
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- Fashion of the 1980s
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- American enterprises founded in 1989
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- United States clothing brands
- New York City-based apparel companies
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- American companies established in 1989
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