About Me - My Biography

Karen Davidson has a strong natural instinct about the mystique of Harley-Davidson from a lifetime of living the Harley-Davidson experience. Davidson, the great-granddaughter of the company’s co-founder, William A. Davidson, began riding at the age of nine.

As Creative Director for Harley-Davidson’s General Merchandise Department, she’s constantly challenged with maintaining Harley-Davidson’s distinctive reputation and rich history as she directs design initiatives for Harley-Davidson’s apparel and accessory products.

Karen’s transition from Fine Arts to Fashion Design in college led into the garment industry. She worked her way up in the garment industry at a fabric, apparel and accessory company in New York to become director of marketing and design for apparel. Never straying far from her love of motorcycles and leather apparel, she began freelance leather design as a side business in 1985.

Karen officially joined the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in 1989 when Harley-Davidson decided to expand its core offerings to its loyal customers by creating a branded line of apparel and accessories – Harley-Davidson MotorClothes. Each year Karen shapes the creative direction for apparel and accessory collections. Karen enjoys working with functional riding apparel and has been involved with the creative direction of all the leather collections since the launch of H-D MotorClothes. Today, after a decade of record company growth, General Merchandise’s sales have increased ten-fold since 1989.

In 1991, the Council of Fashion Designers of America in New York bestowed the prestigious industry award to Karen and Harley-Davidson for fashion influence.

“The most important thing for me is to never to lose sight of our core customer. In keeping with our motorcycles perfect blend of artistry in iron, MotorClothes combines authenticity with rugged versatility,” says Davidson.

Karen lives in California and has established an office in one of the motorcycling “hubs” of the U.S. She is dedicated to supporting Harley-Davidson MDA fundraising efforts and dealer events. For relaxation, Karen and her husband enjoy long distance motorcycle trips.