Is DKNY a luxury brand?

DKNY HISTORY

Donna Karan is one of the most influential designers in the fashion world. She was born in New York as Donna Ivy Faske. She grew up in Hewlett, Long Island. Ever since she was a kid, she was already immersed in the work of fashion. Her mother is a model, and her stepfather was a suit designer. 

At age 14, she dropped out of school to work in a local boutique shop. She sold clothes, and in 1968, she entered Parsons School of Design in New York City. While she was in school, she worked for designer Anne Klein, and in two years, she became the associate designer. Her talent and skills were so impressive that when she turned 26, she became the head designer.

When Anne Klein died, it was Karan who lead the direction of the brand. She worked together with fellow designer Louis Dell'Olio. They brought the Anne Klein brand to heights even when she got divorced from her first husband, Mark Karan.

By 1985, Karan left Anne Klein to release her new clothing line for women. Around this time, she got married to her second husband, Stephan Weiss. Her well-known mission is to design modern clothes for modern people. She saw the increase in the number of working women, thus, inspired her to create her women's collection. By 1988, she launched Donna Karan New York (DKNY). This is the affordable fashion line for women influenced by her signature Karan Collection. 

In 1992, Karan launched her first perfume. It was said to be inspired by red suede, Casablanca lilies, and the smell of her husband. By 2001, her second husband died of lung cancer. A lot of products have been created for the DKNY brand ranging from fashion to furniture. Around this time, Donna Karan also sold her company to Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy, a French luxury conglomerate. She remained to be the designer (as part of the contract with LVMH).

In 2003 Karan became the first American to receive the Superstar Award of the Fashion Group International. She was also honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Like Emporio Armani, Alexander McQueen, and other brands, Donna Karan stayed a top designer in the fashion world. In 2004, she wrote her autobiography, The Journey of a Woman.

In 2015, Karan stepped down from her role and devoted her time to her new company. Urban Zen is a lifestyle brand Karan launched back in 2007. Her brand under LVMH remains to target specific American buyers under its new designers, Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osbourne.

DKNY was sold by LVMH to the G-III Apparel Group in 2016 for $650 million.

IS DKNY A LUXURY BRAND OR A PREMIUM BRAND?

DKNY is an affordable line of the Donna Karan collection which is the signature line of the brand. Although the price is a bit lower than the Donna Karan collection, they produce Premium Handbags. You will see DKNY crossbody bags, DKNY tote bags, shoulder bags, and bucket bags carried by working women everywhere.

When you see DKNY Purses, it vibrates the energy and attitude of the city. It aspires to provide chic clothing for Modern and confident working women. The DKNY bags, DKNY purse, clothing, and other products are inspired by New York Life. 

DKNY offices operate in New York, Milan, London, and Hong Kong. It has various retail locations around the globe,