Donna Karan steps down as chief designer of DK International

NEW YORK, USA – Founder Donna Karan is stepping down as the chief designer of Donna Karan International after 30 years at one of the world’s most recognizable fashion houses, the company said.

Karan, 66, will turn her full attention to her Urban Zen lifestyle brand, founded in 2007, which sells home decor, jewelry and beauty products. 

“Our visionary founder, Donna Karan, has made a personal decision to step down from her day-to-day responsibilities as chief designer for Donna Karan International,” according to a statement.

In a post on Instagram, the firm said she will remain in an “advisory” role.

Donna Karan’s Next Journey After much thoughtful discussion and in partnership with Donna Karan International and LVMH, our visionary founder, Donna Karan, has made a personal decision to step down from her day-to-day responsibilities as Chief Designer for Donna Karan International. She will remain with the company in an advisory role and will dedicate her focus on her Urban Zen Company and foundation, which she founded in 2007. Over the past three decades, Donna Karan has inspired women around the world to embrace their power and sensuality. When she started her collection in 1985 she set out to simply make clothes for her and her friends. A little collection of simple black pieces that was all about need and desire. She quickly found out that she wasn’t alone- she had a lot of friends out there. Her philosophy of a sophisticated system of dressing, “her seven easy pieces” revolutionized the working woman’s wardrobe. Donna Karan is an icon, visionary designer and a passionate philanthropist. She believes in dressing and addressing women. Her impact on American Fashion has been extraordinary and she will continue to influence and inspire for years to come. We honor Donna today and always. We look forward to celebrating her past, present and future in her memoir, which is due out in October 2015. #DonnaKaran

A photo posted by Donna Karan New York (@donnakaran) on Jun 30, 2015 at 2:28pm PDT

Donna Karan International will suspend the production of the Donna Karan collection, and will no longer show at New York Fashion Week, according to the Council of Fashion Designers of America. 

Donna Karan International was purchased by French conglomerate LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton in 2001. 

The DKNY (Donna Karan New York) clothing line, founded in 1988, is known for its stylish, simple and clean designs geared at youthful customers. 

Dao-Yi Chow and Maxwell Osborne took over as creative directors of the DKNY brand in April.

The statement said when Karan started her first collection in 1985, “she set out to simply make clothes for her and her friends.” 

Karan’s brand became known for the characteristic “little black dress” and also the “seven easy pieces” concept – seven clothing items that could be mixed and matched to create a full wardrobe for every occasion.  – Rappler.com