Karen Kane

Karen Kane is an American womenswear brand founded in 1979 by designer Karen Kane and her husband, Lonnie Kane. The business began in the couple's Studio City garage after Karen completed her studies at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles and worked as a pattern maker for a junior sportswear company. Her early experience in garment construction and pattern development helped shape the company's practical, easy-to-wear approach. The brand is associated with a relaxed California aesthetic rather than highly formal or trend-dependent fashion. Its collections have included tops, dresses, skirts, pants, jackets, sweaters, knitwear and other lifestyle garments. The company has also developed petite and plus-size offerings, including the Karen Kane Women's division, allowing the brand to serve a broader range of body types. As the collection expanded beyond small specialty retailers, it gained distribution through department stores and national specialty retailers including Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Belk and Von Maur. It has also appeared through online and specialty platforms such as Zappos, Gwynnie Bee, Lord & Taylor, Wolf & Badger and Rent the Runway. Karen Kane has operated as a family-run company throughout its history. Karen and Lonnie Kane established the business together, and members of both sides of the family have held operational roles. Their son Michael serves as a co-president, while their son Robert has been involved in design. Lonnie Kane has also served as chairman of the California Fashion Association. This family structure distinguishes the company from many larger fashion groups and has supported continuity in product development and manufacturing decisions. The company has placed unusual emphasis on producing apparel in the United States. In 2011, approximately 80 percent of its line was reported as domestically made, with the remainder imported. The domestic share rose to approximately 90 percent in spring 2012, and the company continued to manufacture most of its collection in Southern California as of fall 2013. This manufacturing model brought Karen Kane to the attention of policymakers during the Obama administration's discussion of domestic employment and apparel production. In 2012, Karen Kane attended the White House 'Insourcing American Jobs' summit, and U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis later toured the company's California headquarters. The company has also expanded through related labels. Fifteen Twenty was introduced in 2008 as a collection of separates, initially with a strong emphasis on silk. Red 23 was added in 2011 as a casual line of T-shirts, tanks, sweaters, jackets and scarves, and was folded into Fifteen Twenty in 2015. Robert Michaels, named for the Kanes' sons Michael and Robert, was introduced in 2013 as a Bloomingdale's-exclusive collection of knit dresses, tops and sweaters. IMG was selected in 2013 to help develop licensed products for the brand. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company temporarily redirected some production from clothing to face coverings for medical workers, nursing homes, first responders and other people at risk. In 2020, the company earned B Corporation certification, adding a formal social and environmental accountability framework to its longstanding emphasis on domestic production. Karen Kane remains a privately owned, family-operated apparel business based in the Los Angeles area.

Karen Kane grew up in Ohio before moving with her family to Santa Barbara, California, at age nine. She developed an early interest in sewing and fashion and attended fashion-related classes before studying at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in Los Angeles. After graduating at 19, she worked as a pattern maker for a junior sportswear company. There she met Lonnie Kane, who later became her husband and business partner. Karen and Lonnie married in 1979 and launched the Karen Kane womenswear collection from their Studio City garage. The initial business supplied smaller specialty stores, but the line gradually expanded into department-store and specialty-retail distribution. Its design identity developed around comfortable, relaxed clothing with a distinctly California sensibility. Rather than concentrating only on occasionwear or fast-moving trends, the brand built its business around versatile wardrobe pieces such as dresses, tops, knitwear, jackets, skirts and pants. As the company grew, its distribution included Bloomingdale's, Nordstrom, Dillard's, Belk and Von Maur, as well as online and specialty retailers. The company broadened its customer reach through petite and plus-size products. The Karen Kane Women's division provided extended sizing within the lifestyle business, while other collections addressed different price points and retail environments. Domestic production became a notable part of the company's identity. Approximately 80 percent of the line was reported to have been made in the United States in 2011, with the balance imported. By spring 2012, the domestic share had risen to approximately 90 percent. Most production remained in Southern California as of fall 2013. This approach connected the company to national discussion about reshoring and American employment in apparel. Karen Kane attended the White House 'Insourcing American Jobs' summit in 2012, and U.S. Trade Representative Demetrios Marantis visited the company's California headquarters later that year. The business added several related collections. Fifteen Twenty launched in 2008 as a line of separates, including silk-focused pieces, and eventually developed into a broader collection of tops, jackets, dresses, skirts and pants distributed through specialty stores and online boutiques. Red 23 debuted in 2011 as a casual complement built around T-shirts, tanks, sweaters, jackets and scarves. In 2015, Red 23 was absorbed into Fifteen Twenty, broadening that label's assortment. In 2013, the company introduced Robert Michaels, named for the Kanes' sons, as a Bloomingdale's-exclusive collection of knit dresses, tops and sweaters. That year it also selected IMG to represent the brand in the development of licensed products. The company has remained family operated. Karen Kane continues to be identified with the design direction, Lonnie Kane has held senior leadership and industry responsibilities, and their son Michael has served as a co-president. Their son Robert has participated in product design. Other family members historically supported accounting, facilities, customer service and benefits administration. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company temporarily shifted part of its manufacturing capacity from apparel to face coverings for healthcare workers, nursing homes, first responders and other vulnerable groups. In 2020, it received B Corporation certification. Karen Kane remains a privately owned brand headquartered in the Los Angeles area, with its identity grounded in California design, family ownership, extended sizing and domestic manufacturing.

• 2020

  B Corporation certification

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  Karen Kane earns B Corporation certification.

• 2015

  Red 23 is absorbed into Fifteen Twenty

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  The casual Red 23 assortment is integrated into Fifteen Twenty to expand the latter label.

• 2013

  Robert Michaels collection launches

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  The company adds a Bloomingdale's-exclusive collection named after the Kanes' sons.

• 2012

  Domestic manufacturing reaches approximately 90 percent

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  The reported share of the collection made in the United States increases from approximately 80 percent in 2011 to approximately 90 percent in spring 2012.

• 2012

  White House insourcing summit participation

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  Karen Kane attends a White House summit focused on domestic employment and insourcing.

• 2011

  Red 23 is introduced

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  A casual line of T-shirts, tanks, sweaters, jackets and scarves is added as a complement to Fifteen Twenty.

• 2008

  Fifteen Twenty launches

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  The company introduces Fifteen Twenty as a separates collection, initially emphasizing silk garments.

• 1979

  Karen Kane collection is founded

  [1]Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org

  Karen and Lonnie Kane launch the womenswear collection from their Studio City garage.

Relaxed, California-inspired womenswear with an emphasis on comfort, accessible styling, inclusive sizing and a significant history of domestic production.

• Women's apparel · 1979

  Karen Kane Collection

  The core Karen Kane collection is a lifestyle-oriented womenswear line built around relaxed California styling. It has included dresses, tops, jackets, sweaters, skirts, pants and other versatile wardrobe pieces. The assortment is associated with comfortable silhouettes and practical wearability rather than formal or highly theatrical fashion. The company has also offered petite and plus-size products, including the Karen Kane Women's division.

• Contemporary women's apparel · 2008

  Fifteen Twenty

  Fifteen Twenty began in 2008 as a collection of separates, with silk among its early materials. It later developed into a broader contemporary assortment containing tops, jackets, dresses, skirts and pants. The label has been distributed through high-end specialty stores and online boutiques, including Nordstrom and Rent the Runway, and has served as a more expanded platform for casual and contemporary pieces after Red 23 was folded into it.

• Casual women's apparel · 2011

  Red 23

  Red 23 was introduced as a casual complement to Fifteen Twenty. Its assortment included T-shirts, tank tops, sweaters, jackets and scarves in neutral colors and was aimed at high-end specialty stores. The label was later integrated into Fifteen Twenty in 2015 rather than continuing as a separate collection.

• Knitwear and women's apparel · 2013

  Robert Michaels

  Robert Michaels was introduced in 2013 and named for Karen and Lonnie Kane's sons, Michael and Robert. The collection consisted of knit dresses, tops and sweaters and was sold exclusively through Bloomingdale's according to the available reference material.

• 2020

  Temporary production shift to face coveringsOther

  Background

  The COVID-19 pandemic created urgent demand for protective face coverings among healthcare and other at-risk groups.

  Action taken

  The company temporarily redirected production from clothing to face coverings for medical workers, nursing homes, first responders and other vulnerable people.

  Aftermath

  The available reference material does not provide production volumes, duration or financial results.

  Source

• 2015

  Integrating Red 23 into Fifteen TwentyStrategy

  Background

  Red 23 had been introduced as a casual companion line to Fifteen Twenty in 2011.

  Action taken

  Karen Kane absorbed Red 23 into Fifteen Twenty, broadening the latter collection rather than maintaining two separate labels.

  Aftermath

  Fifteen Twenty continued as a larger collection of tops, jackets, dresses, skirts and pants.

  Source

1. 1Karen Kaneen.wikipedia.org