Story: Fashion and textile design

Madonna wearing Karen Walker pants, 1998 (2nd of 5)

Madonna wearing Karen Walker pants, 1998

Karen Walker attended the New Zealand College of Fashion in Auckland in the late 1980s, but left before graduating to concentrate on her eponymous label. From the outset Walker had international ambitions, and put a lot of work into creating and marketing her brand. After appearing at London Fashion Week in 1999 with three other New Zealand labels, she was well placed to capitalise on the international attention her label garnered. Madonna had worn Karen Walker pants when she performed at the MTV awards in Los Angeles the previous year.

In the early 2000s Walker also designed sunglasses and jewellery.

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How to cite this page:

Kerryn Pollock, 'Fashion and textile design - Going global, 1990s and 2000s', Te Ara - the Encyclopedia of New Zealand, http://www.TeAra.govt.nz/en/photograph/44304/madonna-wearing-karen-walker-pants-1998 (accessed 28 March 2024)

Story by Kerryn Pollock, published 22 Oct 2014