New CEO at Donna Karan

Donna Karen is believed to have approved Mark Weber, the former chief executive officer of Phillips-Van Heusen, to become the next president and ceo of Donna Karan International. Weber would be replacing Jeffry Aronsson, who will be leaving the company to pursue other interests.

According to WWD, Karan has an approval clause for a new ceo in her contract with DKI parent LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. She is said to have met with and approved Weber.

The hire would complete an extensive executive search by LVMH, which has been conducted for more than a year, and become fodder for much industry speculation in recent months.

Bringing in Weber, 56, who is well-known in apparel circles, would be something of a surprise, since PVH's board abruptly dismissed him as ceo after just eight months on the job. That came as a shock to the industry since Weber had spent 33 years at the firm. He had been the right-hand man to the company's prior ceo Bruce Klatsky and was considered a natural successor to the executive, who stepped down in June 2005.

Weber is thought to be a slick, if not flamboyant executive, with a penchant for expensive designer suits and a salt-and-pepper bouffant that could be considered his personal signature.

When Weber took over as ceo, Klatsky told shareholders at the company's annual meeting of their first encounter: "All of a sudden, this guy with this crazy hair who was wearing a suit that's worth more than my entire wardrobe shows up outside my office."

During the final years of his tenure at PVH, Weber was instrumental in the purchase of Calvin Klein Inc. in 2003 and its successful integration into PVH. He was also said to have become increasingly involved in Calvin Klein's marketing and advertising strategies.

At DKI, Weber would join a list of presidents and ceo's who have entered and exited the doors at 550 Seventh Avenue. They have included Stephen L. Ruzow and John Idol, and since LVMH purchased the brand, Pino Brusone, Fred Wilson and Aronsson.

16 July 2006

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
25 August 2004

Donna Karan To License Eyewear

US Fashion designer Donna Karan International and eyewear maker Luxottica Group S.p.A. signed a five-year licensing agreement for the design, production and worldwide distribution of Donna Karan and DKNY prescription frames and sunglasses.

The initial agreement, which will begin Jan. 1, 2005, is renewable for an additional five years through December 2014. During the first 12 months after the commercial launch, Luxottica Group expects to generate sales from the new collections of approximately Euro 70 million.

Leonardo Del Vecchio, chairman of Luxottica Group, said, "Today our portfolio is more balanced than in the past. Sales to third parties of our Wholesale Division for the first five months of this year, up by approximately 9 percent year-over-year, confirm the renewed strength of our portfolio. Donna Karan and DKNY are brands that are truly global, particularly strong in key English speaking markets worldwide."

The first new Donna Karan and DKNY eyewear collections will be available early next year.

www.donnakaran.com
18 June 2004

DKNY’s joins anti-drug mission

DKNY Jeans is joining the American White House’s anti-drug efforts with the release of a calendar that asks celebrities what their anti-drug is. Fourteen celebrities, including musicians and actors such as Enrique Iglesias, Brendan Fehr and Jay Hernandez, and will be featured in the calendar.

The National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign, sponsored by the White House, encourages kids to find something that “inspires, excites and energizes them and which they choose to do instead of drugs.”

The 14-month DKNY calendar will debut in the December/January issue of the popular CosmoGIRL magazine.

The calendar will also be available online as a free download on Freevibe.com.

December 4, 2002
www.donnakaran.com

Donna Karan stop on menswear collection

New York-based fashion house Donna Karan, owned by French luxury goods company LVMH, said it would stop the production and distribution of its spring/summer 2003 menswear collection while preparing a relaunch of the line in autumn 2003.
"It is our long-term objective to reposition the brand. We are convinced that we can heighten Donna Karan menswear, which was launched in 1992, is well placed in terms of product quality, distribution channels and market presence," CEO Pino Brusone stated.

The company added that the autumn/winter 2002/2003 collections will be delivered punctually, and a "reduced menswear" collection will be available at DKNY stores in the period it described as a "period of transition".

Some people believe that this step may be a result of Donna Karan's trading difficulties. The company posted a loss of $ 53.7m for the three months ended 30 September 2001.
www.donnakaran.com
8-5-2002

Donna Karan International shows losses

Donna Karan International, Inc. from New York City saw turnover in the third quarter, ended September 30, slide by 13% to USD 177.2m as compared to the same period last year. The quarter also showed a loss of USD 53.7m, while Q3 profits in 2000 had still contibuted with USD 14m.

The company states that the downturn is linked to the USD 8.2m cost in the context of the August take-over of DKI by the French luxury group LVMH. The business situation is not expected to improve this year, DKI employees will probably not receive their bonuses at the end of the year.

www.donnakaran.com
jan. 2002