New Name For Donna Karan

Fashion brand Donna Karan New York will change its name this autumn to the Donna Karan Collection. The brand's style, however, will not change from its simple, functional and feminine designs.

Donna Karan, the brand's founder, was born in New York in 1948. Her father was a tailor and her mother had worked as a model. Karan established Donna Karan New York in 1984 and DKNY five years later.

Karan loved designing clothes for her family members, and in creating DKNY, she aimed to create a line of casual clothes that suited the lifestyle of her daughter. Later she expanded the range to include DKNY Kids for her granddaughter. Other lines were introduced, inspired by other family members.

Donna Karan Japan K.K. was established in 1992 and became part of the Onward Kashiyama Co. group in 1998.

In 2003, it opened a flagship store in Omotesando, Shibuya Ward, Tokyo, and now boasts 20 outlets nationwide. Commemorating the 20th anniversary of the brand's launch, the company plans to focus on its bag collections and release seven new items each season from autumn.

"Unlike other fashion brands that are recognized by their logos, our bags can be identified by their gold tassels," a company official said.

www.donnakaran.com
August 2004