Image via Business of Fashion

It’s official! Donna Karan has announced that she is stepping down from her role as founder and Chief Designer of her namesake label, Donna Karan International. One of the pioneers of American fashion, she will only remain as advisor to her company, but is said to focus on her health and wellness business, Urban Zen.

LVMH has said that there haven’t been any plans to find a new Chief Designer as yet, and as such, the main Donna Karan line will be put on hold for the time being, and therefore would not be showing a collection at New York Fashion Week this September. Instead, the focus would be to further develop the more accessible DKNY line (where Maxwell Osborne and Chow Dao-Yi of contemporary streetwear label Public School have been recently named as creative directors) , which contributes to 80% of Donna Karan International’s revenue.

The designer said that it was a joint decision between herself and LVMH: “LVMH and I have made this decision after much soul-searching. I have arrived at a point in my life where I need t spend more time to pursue my Urban Zen commitment to its fullest potential and follow my vision of philanthropy and commerce”