Calvin Klein
Fashion Designer
Brand
Calvin Klein is one of the archetypal names of American fashion and American sportswear. Its namesake founder established his business in 1968, producing a line of coats that in 1973 received a major order from New York store Bronwit Teller, igniting the brand.
In 1980, the designer launched his line of branded jeans which brought on the advent of highly marketable designer denim. The jeans were later famously advertised by a 15-year-old Brooke Shields who claimed 'nothing comes between me and my Calvins', shot by Bruce Weber. Calvin Klein gained a reputation for their fashion and fragrance advertising that resulted in controversy and huge sales in equal measure.
Calvin Klein stepped down as creative director of his namesake label in 2003, and brought in Brazilian Francisco Costa and Italian Italo Zuccheli to design his womenswear and menswear respectively. Mentored by Klein in the lead-up to his departure, both designers found great critical and commercial success in exploring the purity of the Calvin Klein aesthetic whilst continuing to embrace advances in fabric technology. Klein has since remained to be withdrawn from the business. In August 2016, the brand announced the appointment of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer of the brand, overseeing all aspects of design, global marketing and communications, and visual creative services. Mr. Simons assumed the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across the company’s ready to wear, sportswear, jeans, underwear and home lines. Simons achieved critical acclaim however this failed to translate into sales.
In December 2018, it was revealed that Raf Simons was to part from Calvin Klein after only two years at the company. Following Simons' departure, the brand announced it would be eliminating its runway collection entirely.
Calvin Klein is one of the archetypal names of American fashion and American sportswear. Its namesake founder established his business in 1968, producing a line of coats that in 1973 received a major order from New York store Bronwit Teller, igniting the brand.
In 1980, the designer launched his line of branded jeans which brought on the advent of highly marketable designer denim. The jeans were later famously advertised by a 15-year-old Brooke Shields who claimed 'nothing comes between me and my Calvins', shot by Bruce Weber. Calvin Klein gained a reputation for their fashion and fragrance advertising that resulted in controversy and huge sales in equal measure.
Calvin Klein stepped down as creative director of his namesake label in 2003, and brought in Brazilian Francisco Costa and Italian Italo Zuccheli to design his womenswear and menswear respectively. Mentored by Klein in the lead-up to his departure, both designers found great critical and commercial success in exploring the purity of the Calvin Klein aesthetic whilst continuing to embrace advances in fabric technology. Klein has since remained to be withdrawn from the business. In August 2016, the brand announced the appointment of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer of the brand, overseeing all aspects of design, global marketing and communications, and visual creative services. Mr. Simons assumed the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across the company’s ready to wear, sportswear, jeans, underwear and home lines. Simons achieved critical acclaim however this failed to translate into sales.
In December 2018, it was revealed that Raf Simons was to part from Calvin Klein after only two years at the company. Following Simons' departure, the brand announced it would be eliminating its runway collection entirely.
