Fashion design icon Donna Karan, who made an indelible mark on fashion with both her Donna Karan International brand and its popular DKNY label, announced she will step down from her chief designer role at the company. Karan’s company is owned by the French giant LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuiton, which — if the name wasn’t enough of a clue for you — specializes in super high-end luxury. Karan, 66, will now focus on her line called Urban Zen.
Karan is likely to once again be in the vanguard with the move. Her Urban Zen line is very much in tune with current consumer consciousness: the smaller lifestyle-focus Urban Zen band aligns with consumer preference trends like smaller and more personalized, just as LVMH moves toward bigger, more mainstream marketing with the DKNY brand. Karan’s statement read in part: “LVMH and I have made this decision after much soul-searching. I have arrived at a point in my life where I need to spend more time to pursue my Urban Zen commitment to its fullest potential and follow my vision of philanthropy and commerce.”
