DKNY Brand Source Own F--The DKNY brand was founded in 1984 with a vision of New York's diverse cultures and unique lifestyle. The DKNY brand was founded in 1984, and since its inception, it has given a new interpretation to the different cultures and unique lifestyle of New York. dkny depicts the different cultures and lifestyles of New York in a more avant-garde, fashionable and casual way, and embodies the unique charm of dkny in a very different language.