Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein, the renowned fashion designer, was born in the Bronx, New York.

Calvin Klein, the American fashion designer, was born on November 19, 1942, in the Bronx, New York City, to an Austria-Hungarian Jewish family.

Calvin Klein enrolled in the prestigious Fashion Institute of Technology in 1959 and completed his studies in 1962.

In 1964, Calvin Klein married Jayne Centre and they had a daughter named Marci. However, the marriage ended in divorce in 1974.

Calvin Klein officially incorporated his company, Calvin Klein Ltd, with Barry Schwartz as a partner, leaving out his childhood friend Abe Morenstein. This event marked the beginning of the official establishment of the iconic fashion brand.

On May 17, 1968, Calvin Klein founded his first company. This marked the beginning of his successful career in the fashion industry.

In September 1969, Calvin Klein's designs made their appearance on the cover of American Vogue, gaining significant recognition.

Calvin Klein Inc. was established by Calvin Klein and Barry Schwartz. Schwartz managed the business aspects while Klein focused on design.

In 1973, Calvin Klein unveiled a complete line of women's sportswear, marking a significant moment in American fashion history.

In 1974, Calvin Klein designed tight-fitting signature jeans that made $200,000 in their first week of sales.

Calvin Klein received his third consecutive Coty Award in 1975, making him the only designer to achieve this feat, showcasing his exceptional talent and influence in the fashion industry.

In 1976, Calvin Klein introduced a slim-fitting pair of jeans with his brand name embroidered on the back pocket, making jeans a high fashion item.

In 1977, Calvin Klein's daughter Marci was kidnapped on her way to school. Klein paid a $100,000 ransom for her release, and she was returned safely. The kidnappers, including her babysitter Paule Ransay, Ransay’s half-brother Dominique, and his friend Cecil Wiggins, were arrested shortly after.

In 1978, Calvin Klein Jeans was introduced through a licensing agreement with Puritan. This marked the beginning of Calvin Klein's iconic denim line.

In January 18, 1982, People magazine featured an article about Calvin Klein, highlighting his prominent position in the fashion industry as the 'King of Clothes'.

On May 18, 1982, Calvin Klein made a significant move by entering the designer underwear market with the introduction of designer boxers and briefs.

By 1983, Calvin Klein had added women's underwear to the product line and acquired Puritan, its jeans licensee, for $68 million, further solidifying the brand's presence in the fashion industry.

In 1984, Calvin Klein expressed his fashion philosophy in an interview with WWD, emphasizing simplicity, sensuality, sophistication, and modernity.

In 1985, Calvin Klein launched the Obsession fragrance, which became a significant success. The fragrance was backed by a substantial advertising budget of $13 million, leading to immediate popularity and high sales.

In May 18, 1990, Calvin Klein was honored with the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for both his mens and womens clothing lines.

In 1991, Calvin Klein received the American Academy of Achievement's Golden Plate Award.

In 1992, Calvin Klein featured Kate Moss in a series of underwear ads alongside 'Marky' Mark Wahlberg, which turned Moss into a household name.

Calvin Klein introduced the unisex CK One fragrance as part of the cK line, aiming to appeal to a fresh youth subculture with a grungy edge. This groundbreaking launch included jeans and underwear.

On May 18, 1995, Calvin Klein faced criticism for his sexually suggestive ad campaigns.

Calvin Klein 1996 is a collection by the renowned fashion brand that was released in the year 1996.

The Calvin Klein Spring 1998 collection was showcased during the fashion season of June 1998, featuring the brand's signature minimalist and modern aesthetic.

In June 2000, Calvin Klein sued Warnaco, his biggest licensee, for federal trademark violations and unauthorized distribution of CK Jeanswear product, demanding the license back.

In 2001, just days before the start of a jury trial in federal court, CKI unilaterally ended Warnaco’s Calvin Klein Jeanswear license, leading to a legal dispute. However, on January 22, Calvin Klein and Linda Wachner, Warnaco’s CEO, reached a last-minute settlement, allowing Warnaco to retain the Calvin Klein Jeanswear license until 2044.

In mid-December 2002, Calvin Klein Inc was sold to Phillips Van Heusen Corp for approximately $400 million in cash and $30 million in stock, along with licensing rights and royalties, marking a significant business deal.

In May 2005, the Calvin Klein Cosmetics Company, previously owned by Unilever, was purchased by Coty Inc., leading to a change in ownership of the brand's cosmetic line.

In February 2006, CKI decided not to renew Calvin Klein's three-year consulting agreement, leading to the designer no longer having any formal relationship with the company.

In 2008, Bridget Foley highlighted Calvin Klein's enduring influence in the fashion world, contrasting it with other designers like Halston who faded away, emphasizing Klein's consistent power and relevance.

PVH acquired Warnaco Group for US$2.8 billion, bringing together Calvin Klein formal, underwear, jeans, and sportswear lines.

In 2015, Justin Bieber and Lara Stone starred in a Calvin Klein campaign featuring black-and-white photographs reminiscent of the iconic Mark Wahlberg/Kate Moss campaign from the '80s. Shot by Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott in New York City, the ads showcased the duo in bold poses wearing key pieces from the jeans and underwear spring collections.

In August 2016, Calvin Klein, Inc. announced the appointment of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer, overseeing all design aspects of the brand globally.

On December 21, 2018, Calvin Klein Inc. announced that Raf Simons was departing from the company, just 28 months into his role and eight months before his contract was set to end. The decision was made due to a shift in brand direction that did not align with Simons' creative vision.

In January 2019, Calvin Klein decided to close its high-end designer collection, 205W39NYC, and announced that it would not continue with a traditional collection business.

In February 2019, Calvin Klein implemented a digital-first, socially amplified marketing model, marking a significant shift in their advertising strategy.

In November 2020, Jessica Lomax was appointed as the Global Head of Design at Calvin Klein, where she leads the global design strategy and provides creative direction across all aspects of the business.

Eva Serrano was named the global brand president of Calvin Klein in December 2022. With a background of 20 years at Inditex and Zara, she now reports to Larsson, marking a key leadership change within the company.

In March 2023, BTS member Jung Kook was appointed as the global brand ambassador for Calvin Klein Jeans and Underwear.