Donna Karan Steps Down as Head of Donna Karan Int’l

Donna Karan at New York Fashion Week DKNY show (photo copyright M. Hall)

Designer Donna Karan has decided to step down as head of Donna Karan International, to focus on her Urban Zen line according to the New York Times.  So what will happen to the fashion house that bears her name? The future is uncertain.  According to the New York Times, “LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton, the French conglomerate that bought the house in 2001, said there were no immediate plans to replace her as a designer.”  There will be no Donna Karan show at New York Fashion Week this year.  It seems that the company will reorganize under their lower-priced line DKNY, which is where 80% of the  Donna Karan International revenue comes from.  That makes sense.  Here at The Recessionista, we are long-time DKNY fans.    To us it’s always been about quintessential New York style and the Big Apple of our eye!   Donna will certainly be missed at the helm of DKI, but at least DKNY will go on and her laid-back style will continue with Urban Zen.  If you’re a fan of DKNY, you might want to snap up some DKNY pieces now on sale as the  DKNY collections and style will undoubtedly change under LVMH group.