Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein is a fashion icon known all over the world for his classic looks for men and women. His line includes the Calvin Klein Collection of designer clothing for both men and women, Calvin Klein jeans for men, women and children, and an affordable line of casual wear under the label “CK”. In addition, Calvin Klein produces successful fragrances, cosmetics, accessories and items for the home.

Calvin Klein with a friend Ben Schwartz started his first business in 1968 with only $10,000. The stylish line of coats for men and women was quickly sold to the up-scale fifth avenue retailer Bonwit Teller. The label grew successfully by producing quality men’s and women’s clothing with a flair for design described as “minimalist”. The Calvin Klein line was classic in its simplicity with an elegance and style unique to the brand. Calvin Klein was the youngest designer to receive the coveted COTY award in 1973 and later received many other fashion awards as well as placement in Harper’s Bazaar and the cover of Vogue magazine.

Calvin Klein created a fashion craze in the 80s by being the first designer to mass market designer jeans with his signature name on the back pocket. Calvin Klein sold more than 200,000 pairs of jeans the first week that they hit the market. The famous jeans commercials by teen actress Brooke Shields were mildly suggestive with the phrase “Nothing comes between me and my Calvins”. Sales got an additional boost from actor Michael J. Fox who wore Calvin Klein jeans in the blockbuster hit “Back to the Future”.

In 1982 another product launch grossed Calvin Klein $70 million in a single year and revolutionized the underwear market. Calvin Klein made boxer shorts fashionable for women and briefs for men with the distinctive Calvin Klein logo on the waistband. Ads featured pop singer Mark Wahlberg posing on a giant billboard clad only in figure revealing Calvin Klein briefs. Sales skyrocketed with the underwear being called simply “Calvins”. Later ads featured Wahlberg and model Kate Moss and Antonio Sabato, Jr in artistic but highly seductive ads.

In the late 80s, Calvin Klein launched two successful fragrances for men and women, Obsession and Eternity. At the time of their introduction, the ads were noted for their artistry as well as their shock value. Later additions to the fragrance line included Escape, CK One and Contradiction, still sold widely today.

To date, Calvin Klein, Inc. exceeds $6 billion in annual sales. Calvin Klein products are sold world wide in fine department stores and speciality shops.