Calvin Richard Klein, born on November 19, 1942, is an American fashion designer whose work has played a defining role in shaping modern fashion. Of Hungarian-Jewish descent, Klein founded the company that would later become Calvin Klein Inc. in 1968. What began as a small coat business evolved into a global fashion empire encompassing clothing, fragrances, watches, and jewelry.
Klein was raised in the Bronx, New York, by parents who were Jewish immigrants from Hungary. He showed an early interest in design and creativity, attending the High School of Art and Design before enrolling at New York’s Fashion Institute of Technology. Although he did not complete his degree, his influence on the industry was later recognized when he received an honorary doctorate in 2003. In the early 1960s, Klein began his career as an apprentice at the traditional cloak-and-suit manufacturer Dan Millstein, later gaining further experience by designing for various New York fashion houses over the next five years.
In 1968, Klein partnered with his childhood friend Barry Schwartz to establish a coat-focused fashion business under the Calvin Klein name. One of the most famous stories surrounding the brand’s early success occurred by chance: a buyer from the luxury department store Bonwit Teller accidentally entered Klein’s showroom after exiting on the wrong floor of a hotel. Impressed by what she saw, she placed an order worth $50,000—an extraordinary sum at the time—which helped launch the brand into the spotlight.
Growing up in the Bronx’s Jewish immigrant community, Klein was part of a generation of designers that included figures such as Ralph Lauren and Robert Denning. He became a protégé of fashion influencer Baron de Gunzburg, whose introductions helped Klein gain early recognition among New York’s fashion elite. Even before his first mass-market success, Klein was already being praised for his refined aesthetic. His debut at New York Fashion Week earned immediate acclaim, with critics comparing his minimalist style and clean silhouettes to those of Yves Saint Laurent.
During the early 1970s, Klein expanded beyond coats by introducing sportswear and, later, a full women’s ready-to-wear collection. His designs gained widespread popularity for their simplicity and elegance. In 1970, he received his first COTY Award, followed by three consecutive wins, making him the youngest designer at the time to achieve this distinction. By 1977, less than a decade after its founding, Calvin Klein Inc. was generating annual revenues of approximately $30 million.
The brand became particularly influential during the 1970s through its groundbreaking approach to advertising. Klein’s designer jeans, marketed as both practical and provocative, changed how denim was perceived. Campaigns featuring model Brooke Shields sparked global attention and controversy, cementing Calvin Klein’s reputation for bold, culture-shaping marketing.
The late 1970s and 1980s marked further expansion with the launch of several successful fragrances, including Obsession, Eternity, and Escape. In 1982, Klein once again redefined industry norms by introducing a men’s underwear line that presented underwear as aspirational and stylish rather than purely functional—a move that would influence fashion marketing for decades.
Throughout the 1980s, Klein received numerous accolades, including being named to the International Best Dressed List and earning multiple awards from the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA). In 1993, he broke new ground yet again with the release of CK One, a unisex fragrance that challenged traditional gender norms in fashion and fragrance marketing. That same year, Klein made history by winning the CFDA Designer of the Year award for both men’s and women’s wear, becoming the first designer to achieve this dual honor simultaneously.
In 2002, Calvin Klein Inc. was sold to the Philips-Van Heusen Corporation (PVH), though Klein remained involved as the brand’s creative leader for a period following the acquisition. Today, the brand operates internationally, with dedicated divisions across Europe, Asia, and Japan. Its product lines include the high-end Calvin Klein Collection, cK for men and women, and cK Jeans for men, women, and children.
Known for timeless, understated elegance, Calvin Klein designs continue to be worn by prominent figures in film and popular culture, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Sandra Bullock, and Julia Roberts. Decades after its founding, the brand remains a symbol of minimalist design, cultural influence, and modern fashion ideals.
Awards and Recognition
-
First designer to receive CFDA awards for outstanding men’s and women’s wear (1974)
-
Named to the International Best Dressed List (1983)
-
CFDA awards received in 1981, 1983, and 1993
Editorial Note
This article is published for informational and editorial purposes only. AsLook is not affiliated with Calvin Klein or its parent company.
Text courtesy: Wikipedia.org, TheBiographyChannel.co.uk, NotableBiographies.com