Karen Kane

Kane was born in the Akron suburb Barberton, Ohio, the youngest of three children.[5] At the age of 9, her family moved from Ohio to Santa Barbara, California, where she grew up sewing and taking as many fashion-related classes as possible.[6] Today, Kane lives in Los Angeles with her husband, Lonnie, and runs her namesake clothing company out of Vernon, California.[7]

Karen Kane started her career in fashion when she graduated from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles at the age of 19. Her first job was as a pattern maker at a junior sportswear company. It was there that she met her husband and future business partner, Lonnie.[8] In 1979, Karen and Lonnie married and launched the Karen Kane womenswear collection out of their Studio City garage.[9] Initially, the brand was sold only at smaller specialty stores, but as the line expanded, it was picked up by department stores like Macy’s, Belk, Bloomingdales, Dillard’s, Lord & Taylor, Nordstrom, and Von Maur. The line continues to be sold at each of these retailers, as well as online retailers such as Amazon, Zappos, Stitch Fix, and large national specialty stores. Kane's clothing is most well known for having an easy, relaxed style that is reflective of her native California.[10] Her corporate mission statement reads: "We believe women should feel beautiful and comfortable, always. We create products with passion and integrity, guided by respect for our people and planet."[11] In 2020, Kane's company officially became a B Corporation (certification).[12]

Kane has been noted as a leader of the American Insourcing movement. In 2012, she was invited to the White House to attend US President Barack Obama's "Insourcing American Jobs" summit and later that year, US Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis toured Kane's headquarters in California to learn more about the challenges of domestically manufacturing apparel in the United States.[13] In 2011, 80% of Kane’s line was made in the United States and 20% was imported from other countries.[14] In Spring 2012, that percentage increased to 90%.[15] As of Fall 2013, Kane continued to manufacture most of her collection in the United States (primarily in Southern California).[16]

In addition, Kane also produces a plus size division of the lifestyle collection entitled Karen Kane Women’s. In 2013, Kane added a sixth division to her company: Robert Michaels. Named for her two sons (Michael[17] & Robert), the collection consists of knit dresses, tops, and sweaters, and is sold exclusively at Bloomingdale's.[18]

Kane also designs a contemporary label. In 2008, she launched Fifteen Twenty, which was a collection of assorted separates primarily made of silk. The brand has been worn by celebrities such as Reese Witherspoon,[19] Jessica Biel,[20] Carrie Underwood,[21] Jessica Alba,[22] Rosie Huntington-Whiteley,[23] and others. Fifteen Twenty is sold in high-end specialty stores and online boutiques such as Neiman Marcus, Rent The Runway, and Bloomingdales. In 2011, Kane introduced a casual complement to her Fifteen Twenty line entitled Red 23. “The line of T-shirts, tank tops, sweaters, jackets and scarves in neutral colors…will be carried by high-end specialty stores.”[24] In 2015, Red 23 was absorbed into Fifteen Twenty to broaden the main brand into a larger collection. Today, Fifteen Twenty is a full collection of tops, jackets, dresses, skirts, and pants.

In 2013, Kane selected IMG (company) to represent the brand in developing licensed products.[25] Kane's eyewear collection has become one of the most successful licenses for its manufacturer, ROI.[26]

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Kane's company temporarily shifted production from manufacturing clothing to making face covers for medical workers, nursing homes, first responders, and other at-risk individuals.[27]

Karen, pictured with her husband Lonnie, and son Michael, in her Los Angeles design studio, 2017

Unlike most other designers of her generation, Kane chose not to sell the rights to her brand; her company continues to be privately owned and family operated.[28] In addition to his role as president of Karen Kane, Kane's husband, Lonnie, currently serves as the Chairman of the California Fashion Association.[29] Karen and Lonnie's older son, Michael, serves as the brand's Director of Marketing. Their younger son, Robert, attended Parsons School of Design between 2012-2016. In 2010, he designed a line of t-shirts that appeared in the 'Karen by Karen Kane' summer collection.[30]

• KarenKane.com, Karen Kane Official Website
  • Company History, Company History
• Fifteen Twenty Official Website