Calvin Klein
For four decades, Calvin Klein has been a household name and
continues to be one of the enduring brands of our time.
Calvin Richard Klein founded the Calvin Klein company in New York in 1968. The company started as a coat company but quickly moved into sportswear. The next five years saw Klein’s rise to fame, and in 1975, Calvin Klein was elevated to the Coty American Fashion Critic Award Hall of Fame. Since then, the Calvin Klein brand has led the fashion industry with its crisp, classy, laid-back and timeless styles.
Over the years, Calvin Klein has used successful, albeit controversial, marketing strategies. Fifteen-year-old Brooke Shields modeled in the first Calvin Klein jeans ad. Her famous tagline, “Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing,” launched child-protection and feminist-activist complaints, and Calvin Klein’s sales soared.
The eighties proved to be a busy decade for Calvin Klein. The brand spawned different product lines, from underwear to sunglasses to Calvin Klein fragrances. It was Calvin Klein’s ubiquitous and provocative advertisements, as well as the subtly chic appeal of the products, that kept the company going despite some financial wrinkles.
In the 1990s, though Calvin Klein ads continued to draw complaints, the brand and its high-quality products were still popular. Klein’s clean, minimalist lines and urban designs have weathered the changing trends of the past few decades and become iconic in the fashion world. Klein has said that he aims to provide timeless designs for women who don’t need large logos or over-the-top styles; he said, “I’ve never been one to see women in ruffles… To me, it’s just silly.”
In 2003, Calvin Klein was acquired by Philips-Van Heusen Corporation, giving Klein more leverage to expand in Asia and Europe (he remains in design with the company).
Calvin Richard Klein founded the Calvin Klein company in New York in 1968. The company started as a coat company but quickly moved into sportswear. The next five years saw Klein’s rise to fame, and in 1975, Calvin Klein was elevated to the Coty American Fashion Critic Award Hall of Fame. Since then, the Calvin Klein brand has led the fashion industry with its crisp, classy, laid-back and timeless styles.
Over the years, Calvin Klein has used successful, albeit controversial, marketing strategies. Fifteen-year-old Brooke Shields modeled in the first Calvin Klein jeans ad. Her famous tagline, “Do you know what comes between me and my Calvins? Nothing,” launched child-protection and feminist-activist complaints, and Calvin Klein’s sales soared.
The eighties proved to be a busy decade for Calvin Klein. The brand spawned different product lines, from underwear to sunglasses to Calvin Klein fragrances. It was Calvin Klein’s ubiquitous and provocative advertisements, as well as the subtly chic appeal of the products, that kept the company going despite some financial wrinkles.
In the 1990s, though Calvin Klein ads continued to draw complaints, the brand and its high-quality products were still popular. Klein’s clean, minimalist lines and urban designs have weathered the changing trends of the past few decades and become iconic in the fashion world. Klein has said that he aims to provide timeless designs for women who don’t need large logos or over-the-top styles; he said, “I’ve never been one to see women in ruffles… To me, it’s just silly.”
In 2003, Calvin Klein was acquired by Philips-Van Heusen Corporation, giving Klein more leverage to expand in Asia and Europe (he remains in design with the company).
Showing 1-44 of 44 items
Showing 1-44 of 44 items
