Photo by Karla Otto PR on ...
Jonas Unger

Karla Otto

Founder

Karla Otto PR

POSITION

Founder

COMPANY

Karla Otto PR

COUNTRY

Germany

Website

Karla Otto

SCENE

Lifestyle & Culture

SOCIAL

Twitter

What makes Karla Otto a Global Shaker?

Karla Otto’s foray into the fashion world began in the 1970s when she worked as an international model. After a short career on the runways, she left to work in the press department of Italian fashion brand Elio Fiorucci, before establishing her eponymous company in 1982.

She has helped promote brands such as Jean-Paul Gaultier, Prada, Marni and Jil Sander and became known for her innovative strategy of taking designer and brand clients to local showrooms. The company expanded to seven offices throughout the world, providing a complete range of services, including showrooms, PR, media consultations, show production and event planning. The company now handles more than 70 brands, among them the world’s most celebrated fashion labels.

Now approaching 60, Otto remains as driven as ever. In September 2017, she announced that her agency was to merge with Asian-based events, design and production company K2, co-founded by French entrepreneur Isabelle Chouvet in 2002. Otto’s aim is as simple as it is ambitious: “to create the biggest luxury brand management agency in the world”.

Last updated: April 24, 2018