Award-Winning Fashion Designer
Donna Karan: Biography at a Glance
- Founded Donna Karan New York, which has been acquired by LVMH
- Donna Karan International has more than 100 company-owned and licensed free-standing Donna Karan Collection, DKNY and DKNY Jeans stores worldwide
- Continues to serve as chairwoman and chief designer for the label
- The first American to receive the Fashion Group International’s “Superstar Award”
- Has been saluted by the Council of Fashion Designers Association six times
- Founded Karan's Urban Zen Initiative, which works to advance wellness, preserve culture and empower children
Videos
Biography
"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."
In fact, Karan credits her feminine instincts for the success of the company she founded in 1984 with her late husband Stephan Weiss, which went on to become a publicly-traded enterprise in 1996, and then five years later, was acquired by its present owner, the French luxury conglomerate, LVMH, Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton.
Donna Karan International has an excess of one hundred company-owned and licensed free standing Donna Karan Collection, DKNY, and DKNY Jeans stores worldwide. The first flagships opened in London – DKNY in 1994, and collection two years later. When the label launched, Karan was only designing women's apparel. It has since expanded to men’s, junior’s and children’s apparel, active wear, accessories and a home collection. Karan continues to serve as chairwoman.
Throughout her long career, Karan's peers have acknowledged her achievements with numerous accolades. The Council of Fashion Designers of America has saluted her six times. In 2003, Karan was the first American designer to receive Fashion Group International's "Superstar Award." A year later, Karan's Alma Mater, Parson's, gave her an honorary doctorate to commemorate her contribution to the school and fashion industry, and in 2007, Glamour magazine named Karan one of their "Women of the Year."
Using her company's visibility and resources for social causes is a heartfelt priority. A member of CFDA's board of directors, Karan conceived and 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 Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, as she has since its 1993 inception, as well as underwrites "Super Saturday," an annual designer flea market/barbeque founded with the late Liz Tilberis in 1998 to benefit the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. To facilitate her many ongoing philanthropic involvements, in 1999, Karan and Weiss established the Karan Weiss Foundation.
Karan's Urban Zen Initiative, founded in 2007, is the culmination of Karan's philanthropic efforts, which was founded to create a working structure for advancing wellness, preserving culture and empowering children.
Her memoir, My Journey, is set to be released October 2015.
Karan currently resides in East Hampton, New York while maintaining residences in New York City and the Turks & Caicos Islands.
Topics
Well-Being: The Voice of the Patient
Pearls of Wisdom
Empowering Children
Preserving Cutlures
FAQs
How do I book Donna Karan for my event?
Contact CAA Speakers at (424) 288-2898 or speakers@caa.com to book Donna Karan to speak at corporate or private events, keynote speeches, speaking engagements, workshops, fireside chats, motivational speaking, or virtual appearances.
Quick booking process- Email CAA Speakers with event details
- Get availability confirmation within 24 hours
- Review speaking fee and contract terms
- Sign agreement and finalize logistics
As one of the most influential talent agencies in the world, CAA handles all speaking engagements from contract to event day coordination.
Who is Donna Karan's booking agent?
CAA Speakers is the preferred booking agency to contact for Donna Karan’s speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com for all Donna Karan in-person appearances and keynote speaking requests.
Contact Donna Karan's agent- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: caa.com/caaspeakers
- Response: Within 24 hours
CAA Speakers can check Donna Karan's speaking calendar with direct access to availability and official pricing. While many websites may list Donna Karan, CAA Speakers is the direct source for authentic information about availability and pricing.
What is Donna Karan's speaking fee?
Donna Karan's speaking fee varies by event type, location, and requirements. As a top keynote speaker, Donna Karan's fee reflects their expertise and market demand.
Speaking fee factors:- Event type and audience size
- Travel distance and logistics
- Presentation length and customization
- Virtual vs. in-person delivery
Additional costs: Travel, accommodation, A/V requirements, and optional meet-and-greets.
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for Donna Karan's current speaking fee and detailed cost breakdown.
How much does it cost to book Donna Karan as a keynote speaker?
The cost to book Donna Karan as keynote speaker includes their speaking fee plus travel and logistics expenses.
Total booking cost includes:- Donna Karan's keynote speaking fee
- Travel and accommodation
- Technical requirements and A/V setup
- Optional add-ons like book signing and meet & greets
- Virtual presentations
- Local/regional events
- Off-peak booking periods
- Flexible event dates
Email speakers@caa.com for Donna Karan's exact booking cost and customized pricing proposal.
How to contact Donna Karan for speaking engagements?
Contact CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com for all Donna Karan speaking engagements.
Official contact for Donna Karan bookings:- Email: speakers@caa.com
- Website: https://www.caa.com/caaspeakers/donna-karan
- Response time: 24 hours
Include your event date, location, audience size, and budget when contacting CAA about booking Donna Karan.
Is Donna Karan available for virtual speaking events?
Yes, Donna Karan speaks at virtual events with professional-grade equipment and interactive presentation style.
Donna Karan's virtual event options:- Live virtual keynotes with Q&A
- Interactive workshops and breakouts
- Hybrid events (in-person + virtual)
- Pre-recorded presentations
Virtual events offer global reach, flexible scheduling, and reduced travel costs while maintaining Donna Karan's engaging presentation quality.
Contact CAA Speakers for Donna Karan's virtual event availability and technical specifications.
What events can I book Donna Karan for?
Book Donna Karan for corporate conferences, industry events, private functions, and virtual presentations. Donna Karan customizes content for any audience size or event type.
Event types:- Corporate meetings and conferences
- Industry summits and trade shows
- Private executive retreats
- Educational institution events
- Virtual and hybrid conferences
Donna Karan engages audiences from private executive meetings to large conferences with thousands of attendees.
Contact CAA Speakers to discuss how Donna Karan can customize their presentation for your specific event.
Donna Karan booking information and availability
Check Donna Karan's speaking availability through CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com. Book 3-6 months in advance for best date selection during peak seasons (September-November, March-May).
Availability factors:- Event date and location
- Speaking fee and budget
- Lead time for booking
- Peak conference seasons
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 3-6 months: Best availability
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Contact CAA early in your planning process to secure Donna Karan for your preferred event date.
Book Donna Karan keynote speaker through CAA
Book Donna Karan through CAA Speakers for guaranteed authentic representation and professional event coordination. CAA is the preferred booking agent for Donna Karan, with direct access to their speaking availability and decades of experience representing the world’s top keynote speakers.
CAA booking advantages:- Direct access to Donna Karan's calendar
- 24-hour availability confirmations
- Professional contract negotiation
- Full logistics coordination
- Industry-leading client service
Trusted by Fortune 500 companies for their most important speaking engagements. Contact speakers@caa.com to book Donna Karan for your next event.
Will Donna Karan speak at private events?
Yes, Donna Karan speaks at private corporate events, executive retreats, board meetings, and exclusive functions.
Private event types:- Executive retreats and board presentations
- Client entertainment and VIP gatherings
- Corporate celebrations and award ceremonies
- Private dinners and exclusive functions
Private event benefits: Customized content, enhanced interaction, complete confidentiality, and flexible scheduling.
Contact CAA Speakers for Donna Karan's private event availability and confidential pricing proposals.
How quickly will I get a response about booking Donna Karan?
CAA Speakers responds to Donna Karan booking inquiries within 24 hours during business days. Complex requests or international events may take up to 48 hours for detailed proposals.
Response timeline:- Initial acknowledgment: Within 24 hours
- Availability confirmation: 24-48 hours
- Detailed pricing proposal: 48-72 hours
- Urgent requests: Same-day priority response
Include complete event details (date, location, audience size, budget) for fastest response times.
How far in advance should I book Donna Karan?
Book Donna Karan 3-6 months in advance for best availability, especially during peak speaking seasons. Early booking ensures better date selection and rate negotiations.
Recommended booking timeline:- 3-6 months: Optimal availability and pricing
- 2-3 months: Good availability
- 1-2 months: Select availability
- Under 30 days: Limited availability
Peak seasons: September-November and March-May book fastest. Contact CAA Speakers early for priority consideration.
How do I get Donna Karan pricing information?
Get Donna Karan pricing information by contacting CAA Speakers at speakers@caa.com with your event details. Receive detailed cost breakdown within 24-48 hours with no obligation to book.
For accurate pricing, include:- Event date and location
- Audience size and type
- Event format and duration
- Budget parameters
CAA provides transparent pricing with all costs included - speaking fee, travel, accommodation, and technical requirements.