Calvin Klein

Calvin Klein was born November 19, 1942, in the Bronx, New York. As a teenager, he developed a passion for fashion and drawing, often spending hours on end sketching women in suits and dresses. Following his graduation from the High School of Art and Design, Klein studied apparel design at Manhattan's preeminent Fashion Institute of Technology.

In 1968 Calvin Klein lunched his company with the financial backing of childhood friend Barry Schwartz.

The American fashion house became known worldwide thanks to their jeans, casual collections, underwear collections and perfumes. Through the tremendous success that led the brand that bears his name to fame, Calvin Klein has held tight to what defines him as a designer, youthfulness and boldness. In 1982, Klein took men’s underwear from function to fashion, by adding style and his logo to boxers and briefs, Klein conquered the underwear market and designed masculine bikinis for women.

In the late 1980s early 1990s, Calvin Klein entered the fragrance market with the launch of Obsession and Eternity. By introducing the first unisex scent, CK One Klein quickly became fragrance royalty, inspired by the growing equality between young men and women in modern America. Klein’s major fragrances since, including MAN, Euphoria and ckin2u, are all loosely based around the same gender-blending concept. Since moving into fragrances and perfumes Calvin Klein has launched over 55 scents for the everyday person for any occasion.

The Calvin Klein label expanded over time to include swimwear, accessories, hosiery, and eyewear. In the early 1990s, he started to manufacture a more affordable line of casual apparel and accessories under the brand name CK. With his trademark minimalist designs, Klein penetrated the home decor market, where accessories ranging from bath towels to bedding linens bear his name.

The recipient of many industry awards and accolades, Calvin Klein was first awarded the Council of Fashion Designers of America Award for outstanding design in both women’s wear and men’s wear in 1982, becoming the first designer ever to receive both honors in the same year. Klein was also awarded the title of America's Best Designer of 1993.

Calvin Klein is also a member of numerous committees, including the Council of Fashion Designers of America. When it comes to celebrity outings, award ceremonies and functions, Calvin Klein is known and the designer of choice for some of these celebrities.

The fashion house company was founded in 1968 by Calvin Klein and Barry Schwartz, who were its sole owners until clothing power house Phillips-Van Heusen bought the company in 2003.

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