The Queen of Seventh Street

Donna Ivy Faske (b. 1948) was born in Forest Hills, New York and grew up in the “Jewish Greenwich” of Five Towns, Long Island. She was raised by a single mother who worked as a fashion model. Karan began her fashion career drawing sketches for Liz Claiborne. Although she dropped out of designer school, her talent propelled her onward, working first with fellow Jew Anne Klein, and eventually starting her own company with husband Stephen Weiss. In 1985, the Donna Karan Co. line premiered for the first time – with the motto “modern clothes for modern people” – and was an instant hit. Along with her popular Essentials and Signature lines, in 1988, Karan launched a new line for youth that has since gained even greater fame: abridging ‘Donna Karan New York’ to DKNY. The brand became huge worldwide (and currently operates 70 stores around the globe), and is often seen as a symbol of New York City itself, likely due to the famous ad poster, which has been called a ‘New York landmark’. A winner of multiple awards, Karan has been nicknamed ‘The Queen of Seventh Street’.

Words of the Week

In material matters, one should always look at he whose situation is lower than one’s own, and thank the good God for His kindness to him. In spiritual matters, one should always look at he who is higher than oneself, and plead with God to grant him the intelligence to learn from the other, and the ability and strength to rise higher.
– Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, the Lubavitcher Rebbe (Hayom Yom, Cheshvan 24)