DKNY
DKNY is a New York-founded global lifestyle fashion brand (est. 1989), wholly owned by G-III Apparel Group, designing and selling women's apparel, handbags, shoes, accessories, and fragrances via DTC e-commerce, third-party marketplaces, and licensed international distribution.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1,001–5,000
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What DKNY does
DKNY is a New York-headquartered global lifestyle fashion brand founded in 1989 by Donna Karan, operating today as The Donna Karan Company Store LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of G-III Apparel Group (NASDAQ: GIII). G-III acquired DKNY from LVMH in 2015-2016 as part of a strategic pivot toward proprietary brands to offset the wind-down of its Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger licensing arrangements. The company designs and sells women's apparel, handbags, shoes, accessories, and fragrances, organized across sub-brands including DKNY 24/7 (fragrance), Be Delicious (heritage fragrance), DKNY Sport (activewear), DKNY Jeans, and DKNY Pure (licensed home textiles). Headcount is reported at 1,001-5,000 employees.
The business model is consumer-facing unit retail pricing with no subscription or licensing revenue from end customers. Products are priced from approximately $20 for accessories to $200+ for premium apparel and handbags, with fragrances ranging from $46 to $105. Direct-to-consumer commerce runs on a Shopify-based storefront (DKNY.com) shipping to over 100 countries, supplemented by marketplace listings (Amazon, Myntra in India, Only Luxury in the US), exclusive licensed distribution (Bizotico/TMS Group for watches in India; Nourison for rugs), and seasonal marketing campaigns anchored by celebrity ambassadors such as Hailey Bieber (Spring/Summer 2026). Marketing channels span Instagram (@DKNY), fashion-week activations, pop-ups, newsletter, and editorial content (DKNY Style Watch).
DKNY's primary customer base is fashion-forward women seeking versatile, urban-inspired contemporary apparel at accessible luxury price points, with secondary men's and licensed home/textile segments. Geographic footprint spans the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, and a growing presence in India through watches and marketplace channels. Financial performance is not separately disclosed; it is consolidated within G-III, which reported approximately $2.19 billion in revenue for the first nine months of fiscal 2026 and guides approximately $2.98 billion for the full year, with DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld highlighted as proprietary growth drivers during the transition away from licensed brands.
DKNY firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- DKNY
- Legal name
- The Donna Karan Company Store LLC
- Website
- https://dkny.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1,001–5,000 employees
- Short description
- DKNY is a New York-founded global lifestyle fashion brand (est. 1989), wholly owned by G-III Apparel Group, designing and selling women's apparel, handbags, shoes, accessories, and fragrances via DTC e-commerce, third-party marketplaces, and licensed international distribution.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
DKNY industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Contemporary Fashion Apparel
- NAICS
- Clothing, Clothing Accessories, Shoe, and Jewelry Retailers (458), Clothing and Clothing Accessories Retailers (45811), Shoe Retailers (45821)
- SIC
- Retail-Apparel & Accessory Stores (5600), Retail-Women's Clothing Stores (5621), Retail-Shoe Stores (5661)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Luxury Handbags & Leather Goods (CRAAAFAD)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Casual & Lifestyle Footwear (CRAAACAB), Luxury & Designer Footwear Retail (CRAAADAH), Leather Handbags & Totes (CRAKAEAA)
Keywords
Where DKNY is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
DKNY business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Apparel and Accessories Sales: DKNY generates revenue through direct-to-consumer sales of clothing, bags, shoes, and accessories via owned e-commerce platform and retail channels. Products include dresses, tops, pants, outerwear, handbags, wallets, sunglasses, and footwear across various price points from approximately $20 to $200+.
- Fragrance Products: DKNY sells fragrance products including the DKNY 24/7 line and Be Delicious collection, with perfumes ranging from $46 to $105 for various sizes and gift sets.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Standard retail pricing for apparel and accessories |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Fragrance product pricing |
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
DKNY product offering
Product offeringCore offering
DKNY designs and sells contemporary women's and men's apparel, handbags, shoes, accessories (including sunglasses), and fragrances under the DKNY, DKNY 24/7, and Be Delicious lines. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at dkny.com with international shipping, and supplements sales through third-party marketplaces and licensed product categories such as watches and home textiles.
Product overview
DKNY is a New York-based global lifestyle fashion brand founded in 1989, offering a comprehensive wardrobe of women's clothing, bags, shoes, accessories, and fragrances. The core product lines include ready-to-wear clothing (dresses, tops, pants, denim, outerwear), handbags organized into signature collections (BRYAR, CAPRI, PAULA, HADLEE, WILLA), footwear, activewear under DKNY Sport, and luxury fragrances including DKNY 24/7 (with variants ELECTRIC, Original, and RUSH) and the BE DELICIOUS heritage line. The brand also features collaborations such as DKNY x New York Yankees and seasonal campaigns, most recently the Spring 2026 campaign featuring Hailey Bieber. DKNY operates primarily as an e-commerce retailer at dkny.com with international shipping capabilities.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- DKNY 24/7: Luxury fragrance collection capturing the energy and vibrancy of New York City, featuring variants like ELECTRIC, RUSH, and the original 24/7 scent
- Be Delicious
- DKNY Sport
- DKNY Jeans
- DKNY Pure
Products and services
- DKNY Clothing
Quantifiable outcome
- G-III Apparel Group reports DKNY showing strong growth as a proprietary brand during transition away from licensed Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger products
Companies that use DKNY
Customer profileNamed customers3 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
DKNY technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
DKNY partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- NourisonminorNourison Home produces DKNY licensed rug collections, including expanded DKNY licensed offerings and the DKNY Pure Cord line. Products are primarily power-loomed in Turkey using 100% polyester, with DKNY Pure Cord handwoven from wool and jute blend, targeting home furnishings market segments.
- Time Management Services Group (TMS Group)coreTime Management Services Group serves as the exclusive licensing partner for DKNY watches in India, collaborating on the 2026 watch collection launch. The partnership features water-resistant timepieces with Japanese movements, distributed exclusively through Bizotico across major Indian cities including Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Pune, Chennai, and Kolkata.
- BizoticocoreExclusive distributor for DKNY 2026 watch collection in India, managing retail availability through premium watch stores, department outlets, and online platforms. The watches feature Japanese movements and water resistance, positioning India as a priority growth market for the brand.
- MyntracoreMyntra, a leading Indian fashion and lifestyle e-commerce platform, has added DKNY to its international brands portfolio as part of its strategy to capitalize on India's expanding middle class. Nearly 45% of demand for international brands on Myntra now originates from non-metro consumers in smaller towns and cities.
Scale indicators2 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
DKNY competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Michael Kors: Michael Kors is a global accessible-luxury lifestyle brand offering ready-to-wear, handbags, footwear, and accessories at comparable price points to DKNY. Both target fashion-conscious women seeking contemporary New York-inspired style, and both operate as flagship proprietary brands of their respective parent companies (Capri Holdings for Kors, G-III for DKNY).
- Coach: Coach is an accessible-luxury fashion house specializing in leather handbags, ready-to-wear, footwear, and accessories. Like DKNY, Coach is positioned in the heritage American lifestyle brand space with comparable price points and a similar target customer seeking practical luxury goods.
- Kate Spade: Kate Spade is an accessible-luxury lifestyle brand focused on handbags, clothing, shoes, and accessories with a playful, urban aesthetic that closely mirrors DKNY's New York City positioning. Both brands target similar female demographics at overlapping price points.
- Tory Burch: Tory Burch is an American accessible-luxury lifestyle brand offering ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, and accessories with a similar bohemian-preppy aesthetic. Both brands compete directly in the contemporary luxury segment for the same fashion-forward female consumer.
- Marc Jacobs: Marc Jacobs is a contemporary American fashion brand offering ready-to-wear, handbags, and accessories at premium price points similar to DKNY. Both brands share New York City design DNA and target fashion-forward consumers seeking designer-quality products with an urban sensibility.
- Karl Lagerfeld: Karl Lagerfeld is a contemporary luxury fashion brand also owned by G-III Apparel Group. Both DKNY and Karl Lagerfeld serve as G-III's flagship proprietary brands and are highlighted together as showing strong growth as the company transitions from licensed to owned brands.
Broad incumbents
- Calvin Klein: Calvin Klein is a global lifestyle brand offering apparel, accessories, fragrance, and home goods at accessible price points comparable to DKNY. Both brands were previously licensed through G-III Apparel Group and compete in the contemporary American fashion category, though Calvin Klein operates at a larger scale.
- Tommy Hilfiger: Tommy Hilfiger is an American lifestyle brand offering preppy casual clothing, accessories, and fragrances. Like DKNY, Tommy Hilfiger was previously distributed through G-III's licensing arrangement, and the two brands target overlapping American lifestyle consumers in the contemporary fashion segment.
- Banana Republic: Banana Republic is a contemporary American clothing and accessories retailer owned by Gap Inc. While positioned at a slightly lower price tier, Banana Republic competes with DKNY for urban professional women seeking versatile, polished wardrobe staples.
- Guess: Guess is a global lifestyle brand offering denim, apparel, handbags, and accessories at accessible price points. Like DKNY, Guess operates a multi-channel distribution model and targets fashion-conscious consumers seeking contemporary American style.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
DKNY social profiles
Digital presenceDKNY financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
DKNY leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
DKNY funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
DKNY M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about DKNY
What does DKNY do?
DKNY designs and sells contemporary women's and men's apparel, handbags, shoes, accessories (including sunglasses), and fragrances under the DKNY, DKNY 24/7, and Be Delicious lines. The brand operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce storefront at dkny.com with international shipping, and supplements sales through third-party marketplaces and licensed product categories such as watches and home textiles.
Is DKNY a public or private company?
DKNY is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was DKNY founded?
DKNY was founded in 1989. It employs 1,001 to 5,000 people.
Where is DKNY based?
DKNY is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does DKNY make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Apparel and Accessories Sales are the primary driver. The others are fragrance Products.
Who are DKNY's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Michael Kors, Coach, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, Marc Jacobs and Karl Lagerfeld. Broad incumbents are Calvin Klein, Tommy Hilfiger, Banana Republic and Guess.
Does DKNY have an API?
No public API is recorded for DKNY.
What industry is DKNY in?
DKNY's product category is Contemporary Fashion Apparel. Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAAAFAD, Luxury Handbags & Leather Goods, with a secondary code of CRAAACAB, Casual & Lifestyle Footwear. Its NAICS code is 458 and its SIC code is 5600.