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Donna Karan
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"Everything I do is a matter of heart, body and soul," says Donna Karan, chief designer of the international company that bears her name. "For me, designing is an expression of who I am as a woman, with all the complications, feelings and emotions."

A modern system of dressing founded in 1984, Karan's concept is based on seven easy pieces. "I'm designing for an international man and woman. A creative person who never knows where a day is going to take them," says Karan. "That's why New York is on the label. It sets the pace, the attitude."

Karan was born into fashion on Long Island,. Daughter of Gabby Faske, a tailor, and Helen, a showroom model and fashion sales rep. So it was only natural that Karan, while still in high school, designed her first collection and staged her first show.

Following her second year at Parson's School of Design, Karan was hired by Anne Klein. After three years as associate designer, Karan was named successor following Klein's death in 1974.

Ten years after Klein died, Karan was ready to go out on her own. Fall 1985 saw the first Donna Karan New York Collection and made fashion history, leading to product categories that included Shoes, Accessories, Eyewear, Hosiery, Fragrance, Intimates and Home. 1989 marked the birth of DKNY, fulfilling Karan’s quest for the perfect jeans. Product categories grew to include, Shoes, Accessories, Fragrance, Watches, Hosiery, Home, Underwear, Ties, Socks and Eyewear. DKNY grew so popular that DKNY Jeans, DKNY Active, DKNY Juniors and DKNY Kids labels spun from it.

Using her company's visibility and resources for social causes is a heartfelt priority. A member of CFDA's board of directors, Karan conceived as well as spearheaded its Seventh on Sale benefits to raise funds for AIDS awareness and education. Karan co–chairs the annual New York "Kids for Kids" events for the Elizabeth Glazer Pediatric AIDS Foundation, as well as “Super Saturday,” an event founded with the late Liz Tilberis in 1998 to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. Karan is also an active supporter of New York City’s Dia Center for the Arts.

Blog Entries by Donna Karan

This Is What Being a Mother Looks Like

(28) Comments | Posted May 9, 2012 | 9:23 AM

The Huffington Post's Global Motherhood section joins Mothers Day Every Day, an initiative of the White Ribbon Alliance and CARE, in a countdown to Mother's Day. Pulling together diverse voices, Mothers Day Every Day is raising awareness and calling for greater U.S. leadership to...

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Haiti: A Story of Resilience, Creativity and Passion

(10) Comments | Posted January 11, 2012 | 6:56 PM

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It's hard to believe it's been two years. When the earthquake struck Haiti, it had a ripple effect that changed countless lives, including mine.

Since the earthquake, there has been a great deal of coverage devoted to Haiti, not all of it...

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Les Enfants Perdus: Looking Into the Soul of a Culture

(9) Comments | Posted October 14, 2011 | 2:10 PM

If you want to see the soul of a culture, look at its art. You will see traditions passed on from generation to generation. You will see their natural resources, their unique hand. Most importantly, you will see the beauty of the culture's history and the hope of its future....

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WIE Symposium 2011: My New 'C' Word

(33) Comments | Posted September 17, 2011 | 7:02 PM

All my life I have had a love of "c" words: cashmere, comfort, city, creativity, champagne. This remains true, although now I find myself gravitating toward words like connect, collaborate and community. I love these words because what I know for sure is that we can't do it alone. Whatever...

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A Woman's Greatest Strength

(25) Comments | Posted September 7, 2011 | 12:09 PM

I've always said that if women ran the world, there would be no wars. Women seek peace. We are natural nurturers. We look to get along, always focusing on what we have in common, not what tears us apart. Our sensitivity is our greatest strength. Unfortunately, it can also be...

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WIE 2011: Connecting With the Next Generation of Women Leaders

(55) Comments | Posted August 23, 2011 | 5:24 PM

Arianna Huffington writes:

Last year, Sarah Brown, Donna Karan, and I co-hosted the inaugural WIE Symposium (Women: Inspiration & Enterprise). It was a remarkable event, bringing together inspiring women leaders, activists, entertainers, and entrepreneurs from across the globe -- all gathering to share our ideas, our experiences, and our desire...

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Mothering the World

(1) Comments | Posted March 7, 2011 | 11:00 PM

Woman.

The word alone is powerful. Which makes today -- International Women's Day -- a day of exponential power that embraces the mind, body, and spirit.

For me, International Women's Day is as personal as it is powerful. I gave birth to my daughter on this day --...

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WIE Need You

(78) Comments | Posted August 10, 2010 | 11:14 AM

Whether you're a young woman just starting out; a socially responsible executive looking to make a difference; or a successful woman who believes in empowering the younger generation -- 'WIE need you' in the fight to save women's lives around the world.


Arianna Huffington writes:

When I...

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Pondering Death

(14) Comments | Posted June 18, 2007 | 11:54 AM

Seeing everyone gathered together for the Urban Zen 10-Day Well-Being Forum in my husband, Stephan Weiss' sculpture studio was emotional for me and my family. I really want to thank everyone who came. It meant a lot to me. For me, the studio was a place that was filled with...

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Healing Is Individual, Not One-Size-Fits-All

(17) Comments | Posted June 4, 2007 | 1:39 PM

I feel really fortunate to be part of this conversation about our health care system since launching my new health care initiative, the Well-Being Forum. It's wonderful to encounter so many dedicated, thoughtful, and caring people through this blog. I thank you all for offering your suggestions and comments, and...

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Where is Marcus Welby, MD?

(16) Comments | Posted May 28, 2007 | 9:05 PM

Well, the ten-day Well-Being Forum for health care practitioners and integrative doctors I hosted in my husband's downtown New York studio ended with a bang last week. But this amazing conversation about how to restore the caring to health care goes on and on, and that means so much to...

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Making Health Care More Caring

(28) Comments | Posted May 22, 2007 | 6:05 PM

Along with my friend and partner in crime, Sonja Nuttal, I launched the two week Well-Being Forum at Urban Zen in what for me is a heart space -- my late husband Stephan Weiss' sculpture studio -- to bring in the best minds and healers from all traditions to figure...

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A New Initiative

(24) Comments | Posted May 19, 2007 | 2:16 PM

This has been the most incredible week of my life. I suppose I've simply gotten to a point in my life where I want to "address" people, not simply "dress" them. When first my husband Stephan became ill with cancer, and then my best friend Lynn Kohlman, I realized...

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