Donna's Journal

Thinking about Motherhood

I’ve been thinking a lot about motherhood and what it means to be a mother; it’s is a subject that I’ve shared my heart and soul on many times. I am a mother and grandmother and my maternal instincts have fueled not only my familial relationships, but also my desire to bring mind, body and spirit into my life as a businesswoman and philanthropist.

This spectrum of motherhood spans across so many things and, in my opinion, highlights what’s most important. This week, I was an extra proud mama. I had the extraordinary pleasure of witnessing my daughter, Gabby, being honored at the Solving Kids Cancer’s Annual Gala. I was bursting with pride watching Gabby receive the “Wings of Hope” award for her tireless support of such a necessary and important issue. And, I’m delighted to share that evening was a fantastic success bringing in over $440,000 to fund new treatment options for kids.

As I write this, I am back in Haiti, a place where I tune into my maternal intuition constantly. As women, we are creators and the desire to give birth is woven into the essence of who we are – whether we birth babies, businesses or ideas is entirely up to us – but our ability to create is an amazing offering; an offering that the world needs.

So, in honor of Mother’s Day, I want to encourage each and every one of you to reach into your inner reserves of creativity. Tap into your unique talents and offer the world your own, authentic, brilliant, illuminated creativity.

All my love,

Finding the World in New York

New York has always meant the world to me. I’m often asked why I chose to name my company Donna Karan New York and I always say the same thing: My name really didn’t mean anything, but New York… New York means everything.

Well, this past week was a perfect snapshot into the world that is New York City. My days were packed with conferences, events and galas… all of which spoke to the diverse facets of my own passions and the global community that makes up this city that continues to motivate me everyday.

From connecting with my friends and inspirations at the Clinton Foundation, to supporting a cause very close to my heart at the Annual Pink Ribbon Gala, to celebrating the Tribeca Film Festival with an event at Urban Zen to supporting key members of my Haiti crew - Bryn Mooser and David Darg – and the premier of their film, “The Rider and the Storm.”

A definite highlight of my week was spending my Saturday afternoon with Haitian Prime Minister Laurent Lamothe, who stopped by Urban Zen to see the gorgeous collection of uniquely designed papier mâché hearts (part of the Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts exhibition that is now available on eBay!). We also took some time to stroll through the Connecting the Dots exhibition and catch up on all things Haiti over lunch at Locanda Verde.

Such an inspiring week! And, now, all of my energies are focused on Barbra who just arrived in New York this weekend. Much to celebrate… stay tuned!

All my love,

Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts

Creating a community of conscious consumerism is at the heart of everything I do, I believe it offers necessary solutions and I have witnessed the impact of this first hand in Haiti. I will be forever grateful to President Bill Clinton and the Clinton Foundation for introducing me to this vibrant country and offering such important leadership in this space.

I am excited to share that Urban Zen, together with the CFDA and eBay, launched Fashion for Haiti: One Million Hearts – an artistic celebration of the limitless potential of creativity and an expression of my ongoing love for Haiti.

For me, Haiti embodies all that Urban Zen represents and these beautifully designed hearts symbolize the power of bringing community together to raise awareness and inspire change.

You know, since my first visit to Haiti with the Clinton Foundation, I’ve been inspired by the Haitian artisans and how they are able to capture their culture and country in art form. I’ve been working with the Clinton Foundation and the Clinton Global Initiative to show the world these beautiful pieces, and in doing so, we’ve been able to help these artisans rebuild their own country by providing them with access to international markets and retailers. As an active member of the Clinton Global Initiatives Haiti Action Network, I was thrilled to work with both artisans from Haiti and Swarovski to create the design for the 2012 Clinton Global Citizen Award, awarded to individuals who have made an outstanding impact in philanthropy, public service, civil society, and the corporate sector.

In my continued travels to Haiti, I have discovered that the solution for rebuilding the country could be found in the inherent creativity of the people. I believe that Haiti represents a model for the developing world, one in which artistry is a key part of the solution.

Seeing the CFDA designers come together to show their support for Haitian artisans is a dream come true for me. The soul that went into these hearts is astonishing; I was blown away by their unique designs. I invite you to visit the Urban Zen Center in New York City to see them for yourself. The hearts will be on exhibition until April 22^nd, after which point they will be sold at auction on eBay from April 22 – May 2 with 100% of proceeds benefitting Urban Zen’s Artisan program.

My hope is that these hearts will continue to carry on the message that with a little bit of creativity so much soul can be expressed and new solutions can be discovered.

All my love,

Women in the World Summit: There is a Powerful Current Stirring

Attending the fourth annual Women in the World Summit at Lincoln Center – just a few blocks from my home – was the perfect way to settle back into New York City after several weeks of travel.

This year’s summit built on the momentum created over the last three years and spoke to the incredible community of women as a global collective. It was inspiring to see world leaders – from exceptional executives, to profoundly effective humanitarians, to political and celebrity heavy hitters, to new women of impact – all come together to offer stories and insights from a very personal and solution oriented place.

I, of course, loved seeing women that I have long admired participate in the summit. Hillary Clinton’s speech exemplified the power of women – she stated so perfectly that, “Helping women isn’t just a nice thing to do.” I loved seeing her look so radiant, refreshed and full of life. Hillary captured the feeling of the summit when she said, “There is a powerful current stirring…we need to seize this moment.” I couldn’t agree more… there is something amazing happening amongst women and this moment is ripe.

You know, I’m constantly struck by the strength of the Clinton legacy and I especially felt this seeing Chelsea take the stage after her mother to lead a paneled discussion on future innovators, influencers and entrepreneurs.

I also love, love, loved seeing my dear friend Danielle Saint-Lot - Haiti’s Ambassador-at-Large - on the “How to Build a Woman Leader Panel,” a subject she has an enormous amount of personal experience in.

As the discussions and stories continued on throughout the summit, I was reminded how important women’s bodies are to our sense of self, power and expression. Many panels focused on the unthinkable abuse women have endured and the “battlefields” our bodies often represent. On the Outcry in India panel, journalist Shoma Chaudhury eloquently spoke to this point saying, “Women’s bodies are the battlefield on which destructive ideologies are contested.” However, there were just as many discussions surrounding the freedom we have to show the beauty of our bodies. I was particularly blown away when 18-year-old Michaela DePrince, a child survivor of war-torn Sierra Leone and orphanage abuse, danced on stage saying, “When I dance, I let people see who I really am.” As a designer and woman who has long appreciated the art of a woman’s body, I really connected with this line of conversation.

Overall, what really resonated with me was the abundant potential represented within this community of women. Empowering people to become self-sufficient, to stand tall, seek solutions and to live brave lives of impact. There were many dark topics covered, but the feeling I walked away with was one of light. In the end, it’s all about women raising women to another dimension.

All my love,

LA, DUBAI, & INDIA

At the moment, I’m staying at a beautiful ashram in India and the evening air smells like tuberose. It’s the perfect setting to reflect and tell you a little bit about my recent travels to LA and Dubai.

I had a whirlwind trip to LA for the Oscars. It was a welcomed change of pace after the frenzy of New York Fashion Week and I loved having the opportunity to not only dress Barbra for her stunning Oscar performance, but also to connect with friends like Hugh and Deb Jackman. After a few days in sunny California, I boarded my 17 hour flight to Dubai where I had a truly inspiring experience taking in culture and connecting with amazing women.

I decided to go to Dubai to join a group of inspiring women for a luncheon appropriately called “Empowering Women: Dynamic Forces of Change,” a paneled discussion moderated by Kathleen Matthews, Corporate Officer and EVP and Global Communications and Public Affairs, Marriott International, Inc. I joined Vital Voices President & CEO Alyse Nelson; Dubai Business Women Council President Raja Easa Al Gurg; Conde Nast Traveler Vice President & Publisher Carolyn Kremins; and JW Marriott Vice President & Global Brand Manager Mitzi Gaskins for this vibrant conversation.

We arrived a few days before the luncheon so we took some time to explore the new JW Marriott – I was immediately impressed with the calming energy. I found the hotel architecture to be absolutely breathtaking; it blew my mind! It’s the tallest building in the world and we had the great fortune to tour the hotel with Kathleen. I originally met Kathleen in Haiti through President Clinton and had an immediate connection with her; Kathleen and the Marriott share my view of how important it is to incorporate the local culture into business. Their philosophies are very much aligned with my mission at Urban Zen; I especially felt this when I stopped by their new spa Saray (where I had an authentic Haman experience with a Moroccan therapist - to die for!).

After the tour, I met with my dear friend Khalid who had produced a fashion show for me the last time I was in the country; Khalid connects the dots between fashion, education, culture and business, a true kindred spirit.

Later, we took a trip over to the Dubai Mall with my team from Donna Karan where I visited both my Donna Karan and DKNY stores… it’s always a little surreal to experience my stores in such diverse locations. Before attending an intimate dinner with a fabulous group of women for opening night of the new JW Marriott Dubai, I toured a brilliant new school called Repton. The British curriculum used at this amazing school placed such an emphasis on art - which covered every inch of the school; I wanted to be a student there!

The next day, it was time for the Empowering Women: Dynamic forces of Change panel. I have to say; I was really struck when I looked around the room at the beautiful faces of 200 women from around the world. Throughout the conversation, I realized how truly connected we all are – how our common experiences bond us across cultures and perceived differences. We all face the same challenges no matter where we live. It reaffirmed for me how important it is to ground your self and be in the now as we navigate through an ever-evolving world. I spoke about the importance of creating community, as it’s not about the” me” it’s about the “we”, the connection of the dots.

As the luncheon came to a close I had an opportunity to take the ladies through a guided meditation, connecting woman-to-woman while I shared my personal struggle to find the calm in the chaos and how my journey with Urban Zen has given me the missing link that connects us all.

You know, as I write this I am cognizant of the fact that it’s women’s history month and international women’s day is fast approaching. For me, that’s what these last few weeks have been about. My friendships with the women in my life are invaluable and I was reminded of this after spending time with Barbra in LA. Then, to connect with such amazing women in Dubai and to be a part of a necessary and timely conversation on women’s empowerment was truly extraordinary. Now, I’m in India working on my own self-care, another element of women’s empowerment that is so crucial (and often overlooked in many women’s lives). I’m taking some time to reconnect my mind, body and spirit. I hope you can take a moment and do the same.

Be in touch soon with more stories from India…

Barbra Streisand Photo Credit: Kevin Mazur

All my love,

The Shows

Another Fashion Week over… whew! I’ve just arrived in LA to dress Barbra for the Oscars, but before I get wrapped up in the celebratory awards season, I wanted to take a moment to tell you about how I’m feeling about my shows.

For me, the Donna Karan collection was about individuality, freedom and endless possibility: three words that embody the theme of my life in this moment. It was personal.

I loved the way this season came together; from look number one through the end of the show, we highlighted women of power. I wanted to convey the evolution of a signature style - a collection that has a life longer than a season.

I absolutely loved the energy of the DKNY show: the color, the set, the video, the music were all vibrant and dynamic. I thought the girls beautifully walked that fine line between youth and sophistication, which was perfect. It was fashion meeting real life and love, love, Ioved it.

DKNY is always a little more familial. I started DKNY to address the growing needs of my own family and the collection continues to draw on my maternal instincts: every season feels like I am watching my child take another step forward. I’m very proud of where DKNY is today.

I feel great about both collections and am thrilled to be taking some time in LA, basking in sunshine, spending time with Barbra and gearing up for the Oscars. Stay tuned!

All my love,

THE BODY SPEAKS

How am I feeling about the collection? I’m so nervous! It doesn’t seem to matter how many years I’ve done this, how many runways have been awaiting yet another finished collection… I still question whether we’ll get it done. The amazing thing is, we always do.

Being in the design room is hard to describe. You know, it’s sort of every designer’s dream and nightmare all at the same time. It’s almost like a birthing room… there is a nervousness, an anticipation. No matter how many times you’ve done it before, you’re still anxious about birthing a new baby. This is the design room: it is its own ecosystem and while you’re in that sacred space you know you’re simply a channel co-creating with inspiration.

Though, it’s certainly an equitable exchange. With each collection I, too, am reborn. After all these years, every season and collection remains a redefinition of self. It is always a continuation, always a surprise, and there are never any guarantees.

I consistently feel like I am starting from the beginning. But, I have to say, I’m proud of my design team – their visions and the unique lens they’re bringing to our collective creations is beyond. I am very confident in the foundation of this collection: the body is back. People ask me how I keep finding new inspiration… but it’s the body, it’s always the body. The body talks to me. There is a language there and I’m constantly trying to speak it, to fluently engage with it. Proportions change, volumes change, and a subtle movement – a stroke of grace, a strike of power – can express something that is entirely new.

I’ve been enormously inspired by my husband’s exhibition, seeing his work on display in his studio has, truly, shaped this collection. I’m seeing, again, the way he sculpted the body… the curve of a neck, the arch of a back… my hand follows these lines when I’m draping, recreates those curves in a seam; I, too, am sculpting the body through my own artistic expression. In this way, Stephan and I are still working in tandem. We will always come together through art – then, now, forever.

All my love,

NATIONAL RETAIL FEDERATION SPEECH

Today, I had the pleasure of sharing my story at the Annual National Retail Federation. It was an amazing experience and one that invited me to re-walk the path of my own life.

As I begin the journey of another new year, starting at the beginning of my story felt like exactly the right way to move forward. There is much on the horizon for 2013, and I am looking forward to sharing all of the details with you right here.

But, for today, I want to take you back to the beginning by taking you through the story of my life by sharing the speech I delivered earlier this afternoon:

For me, business has always been personal. I stand here today not just as a designer, but also as a consumer. I built my brand by being in touch with my own needs as a consumer and I haven’t changed.

I was born into fashion. My father was a tailor and my mother was a fit model. I never thought I’d end up in design, but the universe had chosen my path.

I launched my career in design at Anne Klein. Soon after while Anne was in the hospital dying of cancer and I was in the hospital delivering my daughter, Gabby, I found myself with a collection due, a company to run and a new baby to care for.

Talk about multi-tasking. Then the phone call came, “When are you coming back to work?” I said, “Would you like to know whether I had a boy or a girl… by the way it’s a girl.” Of course, in this industry, the show must go on.

After designing at Anne Klein and Anne Klein II for 10 years, I decided I wanted to create a small collection for my friends and I. The thing is, I am a very selfish person: I’ve been a yogi since I was 18 years old, and I wanted to create seven easy pieces around the body suit - a simple collection that would transition from day to night. This was the start of the Donna Karan Company.

As I grew into a working mother, juggling a small child and a growing company, my needs as a consumer grew and so my brand evolved to embrace a workingwoman’s whole lifestyle.

It was time to address the needs of a woman constantly on the go. From sunglasses, to hosiery, to the perfect bag to travel with and carry all my seven easy pieces, I designed clothing that could go from day to night, evolving with the ever-growing needs of the modern woman.

As I continued to grow as a businesswoman, my designs grew and the public interest in me grew with it. The press wasn’t always friendly, but it was surreal for me to see powerful women like Hillary Clinton wearing signature pieces from the collection. The thing I love about fashion most is when a design is ripped apart by the press, and winds up on the First Lady for her first White House dinner, unbeknownst to me.

I knew right then and there, that the kind of woman I was designing for was a woman who could and should run for president. (So I was a bit early.)

At the same time, my husband was getting into the act, and he wanted clothes. And since my father was a custom tailor, I gave it a shot.

My life as a world traveler and businesswoman took me to amazing places. The colors and the spirits of people and cultures inspired me. These elements were catalysts for my collections then and they continue to fuel my creative expression today.

I started DKNY for a simple reason: I needed a pair of jeans. DKNY was designed for New Yorkers and their busy lives running around the streets of Manhattan. New York has always meant the world to me, just as it does today. DKNY was built around all the customers who were taking subways and buses - from uptown to downtown. As my kids and their friends were all stealing from my closet, I realized I needed to have a brand for them, too. This was DKNY.

But my husband, Stephan, thought fashion was not enough. He believed we had to be in the fragrance business. He said, “Hemlines will go up and down, but a fragrance will last forever.” My husband, an artist and a Star Wars junkie, proceeded to create our first fragrance and bottle. Black and gold and black and silver, for me, were always iconic. It was always about the body - whether a bottle, or an evening dress. Dressing real women of substance was important to me…. Women like Cate Blanchett, Demi Moore, Milla Jovovich and Barbra Streisand (my best friend and sister) became my inspirations.

In many ways, my life has been defined by birth and death. When I started losing friends and loved ones to the AIDs epidemic in the ‘80s, I realized I could no longer only dress people, I needed to address them as well. Perry Ellis believed that AIDS was a personal issue, but I couldn’t sit back.

Seventh on Sale was created because I had a vision of bringing designers, retailers, press and consumers together to create awareness. My designer colleagues like Calvin, Ralph, Oscar and Bill gathered together. I asked everyone to empty their design rooms and sell their merchandise for a cause.

And, of course, it was Anna Wintour and Caroline Rome, then president of the CFDA, who made it all possible. It was then that I learned how effective conscious consumerism could be. Seventh on Sale was just the beginning of this movement; next came Kids for Kids, then Super Saturday.

When my husband Stephan - my partner in life, love, business and family - was sick with lung cancer, it was a wake-up call. Everyone was taking care of the disease, but who was taking care of the patient and the loved ones? It was then that I realized that there was a missing link in healthcare and education.

Everyone always makes fun of me for my C words. Cotton and cashmere, create, connect, collaborate, and communicate with a community for change. Inspired by President Clinton (another C!) and the Clinton Global Initiative, and my passion for bringing philanthropy and commerce together - Urban Zen Center, Foundation, and Retail was born at my husband’s studio.

I transformed Stephan’s studio into Urban Zen Center, a place to bring a community of like-minded people together to create change. It is a place and a space where we design forums, partner with existing organizations and bring together experts to define solutions and implement action.

Urban Zen Foundation raises awareness and inspires change by integrating mind, body and spirit into healthcare and education, while utilizing and preserving the wisdom of our cultures.

As a designer and a yogi, I’ve always been inspired by cultures. I am always a student, traveling the world and searching for knowledge. I am an advocate of bringing these tools to every consumer.

Before my husband died, he asked me to take care of the nurses. As someone who has practiced yoga for so many years, I realized what was missing in my husband’s care: yoga, meditation, essential oils, Reiki, nutrition and an understanding of palliative care.

Each and every one of us is a patient and a loved one. No one gets away with it. So I created the Urban Zen Integrative Therapy program with my teachers, Rodney Yee and Colleen Saidman, to help support patients, loved ones, doctors and nurses, just like I promised Stephan I would do.

(The Integrative Therapy Program has a presence in many areas including, UCLA and Ohio, and our pilot study at New York’s Beth Israel Medical Center has proven that there is a savings of $900,099 on one floor by bringing these integrative therapists to our healthcare system.) Of course, the first thing the hospitals ask me to do is design rooms and hospital gowns! However, my first mission is to care for the people.

This is why I cannot separate culture, healthcare and education – they are all connected and the use of the tools of meditation, yoga and nutrition positively impacts all of these areas. By using these tools, our children, along with their parents and teachers, will be much more apt to deal with the challenges that we are all faced with in our world today.

Urban Zen embodies not just my philanthropic passions, but also my passion for design – dressing and addressing people both on the inside and the outside. Urban Zen Retail is a total lifestyle experience from fashion, to objects of desire, to art and photography from all around the world. It is a timeless and season-less experience for men, women and the community…

Urban Zen is a business model where we connect the dots from philanthropy and commerce and a percentage of net sales benefit the Urban Zen Foundation.

We are further developing this model through our Haiti Artisan Project, an expression of our commitment to philanthropy and commerce and our commitment to rebuild Haiti. I’m often asked, “Why Haiti?” Haiti represents the 3 pillars of our foundation - culture, healthcare and education. I believe where there is creativity, there is hope. And Haiti is the most hopeful place I know.

After my first trip to Haiti, I knew that it was the backdrop for creating something magical. I immediately knew that I wanted to do a shoot there. And so we did a stunning ad campaign for both the Donna Karan Company and Urban Zen with supermodel Adriana Lima, fashion photographer, philanthropist and my nomadic partner in crime Russell James and filmmaker David Belle (who created the Cine Institute in Jacmel).

My job as a designer, and the gift I’ve been given, is to inspire and create. I stand here before you today, not only as a designer philanthropist, but also as a mother, grandmother, wife, and a woman of the world. Through my experiences, I know for certain that now is not the time for business as usual.

It is my belief that there is no time more pressing then the current moment, when our world is in such chaos. Now is the time to use vision and passion to propel the only platform that makes any sense: conscious consumerism. This is a big ask and it takes a community.

Urban Zen is just one model of creating change and as consumers and global citizens it is paramount that we come together, address what is needed and decide to do business differently. What I know for sure is that when we come together, there isn’t anything we cannot do.

All my love,

Happy Holidays

This weekend brought one of my favorite nights of the year – the office Christmas Party! I work with some of the most creative and inspired people and I love celebrating with them over the holidays (especially when they surprise me with things like a festive, competitive holiday-themed fashion show!)

While I absolutely love the holidays, I can’t believe they’re upon us again and another year has gone by in the blink of an eye. I truly appreciate the reflective quality of this season. As I think about the year we’re closing and the new chapter we’re beginning I am certainly filled with a lot of gratitude. I am wishing all of you so much love, laughter, joy and happiness as you bring your loved ones together for the holidays. It is a wonderful opportunity to connect with the ones who are most precious to you.

As I prepare for another year, I find myself thinking a lot about balance – I think it’s the Libra in me. But, honestly, my wish for my own life and my wish for all of you is that 2013 is a year where we find the peace of balance; balance in our bodies, our families, the world. I believe this quality of balance is what leads to finding the calm within the chaos – a goal of mine that has become even more important to me over this last year.

2012 has been a big year and I’ve learned a lot. Perhaps what I’ve learned most of all is that we need to appreciate the value of each and every day, because there is no guarantee of the next. Cultivate time for the things that bring you joy and remind you of your highest and most authentic self – the world needs this from you. And, when it comes to giving (something we’re all thinking about at this time of the year), make sure you’re giving with heart.

May the days ahead be filled with love, light and every good blessing.

All my love,

MY WEEKEND AT ART BASEL

Love, love, loved my weekend at Art Basel. Witnessing the artistic brilliance and just the sheer quantity of creativity out there from every dimension and perspective was amazing.

There are so many highlights to share with you. I loved visiting the Rubell Museum and the incredibly artistic Wynwood Art Walk, which is an industrial area just outside of the design district that’s covered with Graffiti art, fabulous restaurants and some of the best galleries in Miami. I also had a chance to also visit the Nadar gallery, a Latin American and Modern art Gallery that boasts an extraordinary collection of masters- from Warhol to Picasso. Absolutely mind blowing!

I think if I had to choose my favorite exhibition I would say that I loved the street art most. I’ve always loved art that develops a community and, to me, this is what street art does.

Artist Peter Tunney ended up being my dynamic tour guide for most of the weekend. Peter, David Belle and I hit the streets to explore and to celebrate Peter’s Gratitude Project. The experience made me feel like a little kid again… young, childlike and playful. I love that art can take you there and as a designer it is so important for me to tap into this side of myself.

I had a ton of fun at my book signing at the Delano pool. It was a collaborative afternoon with ACRIA to connect the dots between art, healthcare and culture (Trust me, there are a lot of connections to be made in Miami!!). I saw so many friends and loved being in the sunshine, soaking up all kinds of inspiration while sharing my great inspiration: Stephan and his life as an artist.

I, of course, had an amazing time catching up with Calvin Klein at his gorgeous home where he hosted a lovely dinner under the stars for Kelly to celebrate the release of her book, “Pools.” It was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with my friends Ingrid Sischy and Sandy Brandt, Stefano Tonchi and a fun mixture from art and fashion communities. We kept the fun going at Andres Balazs’ new club called Chez Andre - we sang rock and roll Karaoke and danced the night away.

But you know, just having some time off, being with my soul and connecting with creativity was more than just inspiring, it was a healing experience for me. As a creative person, I have absolutely learned that you can offer more and create at the highest level when you feel whole and nourished on a soul level. For me, art is a huge part of this experience.

All my love,