The company was founded in 1981 when Karen Millen partnered with Kevin Stanford. With a loan of just £100, the pair bought one thousand meters of white cotton and began manufacturing and selling white shirts to their friends. A party plan network followed and in 1983 they opened their first store in Maidstone, Kent, which was followed a few years later by branches in Tunbridge Wells, Brighton, Guildford and London.
The brand continued to expand throughout the Nineties, and was acquired in June 2004 by the Icelandic Mosaic Fashions.
In 2009 Mosaic Fashions ceased trading and the brand transferred to Aurora Fashions. Karen Millen was spun-out of Aurora Fashions to become an independent company in March 2011.
Nowadays, Karen Millen is an international fashion house with stores in over 65 countries including global fashion capitals around the world. Under the creative direction of their CCO, Gemma Metheringham, their collection has evolved to offer a luxurious high-low mix of perfectly cut trend-led pieces and seasonal wardrobe staples including their iconic leather biker jacket. Every piece in their collection is designed, cut and finished in their design studio based in Shoreditch London, to ensure their brand continues to stand for exceptional quality, craftsmanship and cutting edge design. They create modern effortless fashion for today’s intelligent, urban woman.