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Essay Available:
Pages:
3 pages/β‰ˆ825 words
Sources:
2 Sources
Style:
MLA
Subject:
Visual & Performing Arts
Type:
Essay
Language:
English (U.S.)
Document:
MS Word
Date:
Total cost:
$ 10.8
Topic:

Donna Karan: Fashionista, Entrepreneur, and Philanthropist

Essay Instructions:

The goal of this assignment is to bolster students’ oral speaking skills and have the class actively engage in educating each other through their individual research and collective sharing during class.
Directions for Report:
Reports are due by the start of class on March 4 and should be 3 pages double-spaced in 12pt font.
In your report, you must:
Answer the prompt question with a thesis statement
Support your thesis with at least:
1 primary source (period news/magazine articles, magazine editorials, interview quotes from the designer, surviving garment in a museum)
1 secondary source (scholarly article or book - you can use readings from the syllabus, books in the library, or the Fashion History Timeline)
Include footnotes in the text and a bibliography of all sources at the end.
Prompt Question:
Why is [your designer] important to know for understanding the history of modern fashion?
*Please note that you should answer this question by discussing the individual designer (person) rather than larger brand. For example if you select Cristobal Balenciaga, your report should focus on the work and career of Cristobal Balenciaga as a person/designer, not the larger brand history of Balenciaga and work of later creative directors like Nicolas Ghesquière and Demna Gvasalia.
In answering the prompt question, think about:
The person's background and career trajectory (biography and business model)
Their actual designs (the clothes – what do they look like, how are they made, what are they made from, who wears/buys them, how have they influenced later designers)
Their persona/public image
Where are they (living, working) in the context of the global fashion system?
Do not just rely on Wikipedia and Google for this assignment. You must use primary sources which include historical news articles, interviews, video, and existing garments in museum collections. You also must use secondary sources (scholars analyzing the designer’s work/life) from the course readings, further readings, and also use the Pratt library for independent research.
Useful research resources available via Library:
Vogue Archive
WWD Archive
Harper’s Bazaar Archive
New York Times Archive
Wall Street Journal Archive
Further research resources:
Fashion History Timeline
Fashion and Race Database
Museum Collections:
Museum at FIT collection
The Costume Institute at The Metropolitan Museum of Art collection
The Victoria & Albert Museum collection
Los Angeles Country Museum of Art (LACMA) collection

Essay Sample Content Preview:
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Professor
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Donna Karan: Fashionista, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist
When talking about fashion, it is hard to pinpoint what defines fame and success, but undoubtedly, Donna Karan is one of the most eminent most influential names in this field. Although her parents were in the field of fashion, her mother a model, and her father a tailor, Karan was not initially planning on becoming a fashion designer. She was an artist at such a young age as she indulged herself in drawing and painting, and playing with colors. As she grew up, she found herself in the company of many artists and fashionistas. When she was 14, she had an opportunity to work as a seller of clothes in a boutique by lying about her age. Little did she know that this job would pave the way for her career in the future. When she was in high school, she was accepted into a school of fashion in design, which was the New York Parsons school of design, through the recommendation of Chester Weinberg, her mother’s employer (Britannica). She quit school in 1968 and worked for a famous clothing brand, Anne Klein. She continued to work for the company for many years and was appointed as the chief designer of the Anne Klein fall collection. It was also around this time when she fell in love with a boutique owner, Mark Karan. 
Donna Karan was also awarded the Coty American Fashion Critics awards in 1977 and 1981, together with her former classmate Louis Dell'Olio. They were also inducted into the organization's Hall of Fame. She, later on, had a second marriage with Stephen Weiss, a sculptor, and they both served as chief executives of the Donna Karan Co. Donna stated that her husband was the one who pushed Donna to pursue and create a clothing brand and business. According to Donna, her husband was the one who managed the business side of their joint endeavor, while she was the brains, designer, and creator of their products (Forbes). 
The DKNY brand was created to cater to the demands of people who want more affordable but undoubtedly beautiful fashion. The DKNY stands for Donna Karan, New York. According to Donna, she incorporated New York in her brand name because it was appealing not only to Americans but to the whole world. Her efforts were fruitful in makin...
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