Calvin klein
The founder of this brand is called the premier minimalist of all time. The brand itself is associated all over the world with sexuality, challenge and scandal.
Calvin Klein is not just a popular brand of clothing and lingerie, it is a true embodiment of grace and inner freedom that has no boundaries.
A little about the founder of the company
Calvin Klein was born in 1942, and, according to a family legend, he realized in childhood that he wanted to be a designer.
The boy's dreams came true - at the age of 18 he graduated from the Higher School of Art and Design, then entered the New York Fashion Institute of Technology.
Early in his career, he worked for various New York City fashion houses as an assistant, but pretty soon he got tired of being in the backyard.
In 1964 he got married, they had a daughter with his wife, but after 10 years the marriage broke up.
In 1968 he founded his own company and created his first collection with money that he borrowed from his friend Barry Schwartz, who eventually became his partner.
As Kelvin himself said, In the United States, everyone has a chance if he has the necessary abilities and the desire to work hard. Klein had an abundance of both, which became his formula for success.
The 70s were marked for him by stormy parties and bohemian parties, which soon bored him. In the late 80s, he married his assistant Kelly Rector, however, in 2006 this marriage also came to an end.
Having come a long way, in 2003 the designer retired and retired. Today he leads a healthy lifestyle, loves to visit restaurants of exotic cuisine and just enjoys life.
Brand history
Initially, Calvin Klein Ltd. was an atelier engaged in sewing classic men's clothing in the person of Klein himself.It was located in one of the New York hotels, which, according to legend, was a great success for an aspiring designer.
Once the owner of a fashionable boutique, which was on the floor above, made a mistake with the elevator button and wandered into the studio to the young Kelvin. He was so impressed with the collection of clothes he saw that he immediately made an order for 50 thousand dollars. Perhaps, if it were not for this fateful meeting, everything would have turned out differently for the designer. It was thanks to her that he got the opportunity from the very beginning of his career to use money for his own pleasure and create truly incredible things.
A year later, Klein became famous in the bohemian hangout of New York and even starred for a glossy magazine himself. These were crazy years of life, according to the designer himself, which were accompanied by many parties, alcohol and drugs. However, surprisingly, this did not affect his performance in any way, and in 1970 he decided to launch a line of clothing for women.
Taking the classic men's jacket as a basis, he created the PerCoat coat, which for a long time set the tone for the fashion trends of that time. Today this model is known to us as a pea coat - a double-breasted cropped coat that never goes out of style.
1978 marked a turning point in the history of the brand. Kelvin had realized long before that that jeans are a wardrobe item that has been undeservedly deprived of the attention of famous designers.
Until this moment, denim trousers were associated with workwear, and it was Calvin Klein who revolutionized the fashion with the release of the first branded jeans. They have become a symbol of nobility and sexuality, and every American fashionista now dreams of getting a stylish pair with the cherished letters CK.
Later, Klein became the first to dye denim black and sew a model that was tight-fitting.
In the early 80s, the brand began producing men's underwear, which is considered legendary today. The wide elastic band with the brand logo made it recognizable all over the world, and the number of fakes and copies continues to be produced in countless editions today.
The company's revenue is growing rapidly, the brand's clothing is sold throughout the United States and Europe, and its annual income exceeds $ 600 million!
However, this turn of events is quite justified, because the owner of the brand gushes with innovative ideas that are enthusiastically received by the public. One of the most significant, without a doubt, is the creation of the unisex style.
Calvin Klein was the first to create a collection of clothing that was not gender-normative, that is, it was equally suitable for people of both genders. He made the greatest revolution in the history of modern fashion, by abandoning frameworks and conventions and allowing people to wear the most comfortable and comfortable clothes, regardless of gender.
The designer not only laid fashion trends himself, but also reacted as quickly as possible to any changes in the fashion industry. For example, when the military style came into vogue in the early 2000s, the brand's assortment was one of the first to include cargo pants and protective clothing. The company gradually grows into an empire and begins to open its boutiques in the East.
Despite the incredible popularity, annual income of millions and several prestigious awards, after 30 years of tireless work, Klein begins to think about vacation.
In 2003, the company was sold to the Phillips-Van Heusen shirt corporation for $ 400 million. The designer got the right to be a consultant in this huge empire and choose a new successor when he wants to completely retire. The new designer of the Calvin Klein brand is the Brazilian Francisco Costa. He remained faithful to the traditions, creating clothes in the minimalism familiar to fans of the brand.
In 2016, he was replaced by Raf Simons, who remains in this position today.
The brand has been and remains one of the most recognizable, successful and sold in the whole world. His concept, as before, is based on brevity and simplicity that never goes out of style.
A year ago, the brand regained its status as the most talked about, thanks to the #mycalvins ad campaign, which featured popular singer Justin Bieber and supermodel Kendal Jenner.
Advertising of this fashion house generally deserves special attention, so we invite you to get acquainted with the most significant campaigns in its history.
Advertising campaigns
We already know that Calvin Klein is a kind of revolutionary in the fashion world, the founder of one of the most popular styles and the creator of the first designer jeans. In addition, he is a legend in the advertising world, with many scandals associated with his name.
It all started with the very first ever advertising of jeans, which later became one of the symbols of the sexual revolution in the United States. Not surprising, because the poster featured 15-year-old Brooke Shields and the billboard said "You know there's nothing between me and my jeans?"
The public reaction was deafening - at that time the Puritan States accused Klein of promoting teen pornography, but at the same time, sales of jeans skyrocketed.
This ad started a series of advertising provocations of the KC brand, and other brands have also picked up this trend.
In 1988, the young model Christy Turlington became the face of the Calvin Klein Collection. Subsequently, she became the face of the brand more than once. For example, in 2013, a contract was signed with her again, and Christie again starred in a frank advertising photo shoot, because her figure was an object of admiration even at 44 years old.
In the early 90s, the brand again shocked the public - for the first time, an almost naked male body was shown in an advertisement for lingerie. A billboard depicting Mark Wahlberg flaunts in downtown Manhattan, Kelvin is accused of promoting excessive sexuality and debauchery, and sales are again reaching a critical point.
Today, Mark's snapshot with a perfect abs and a disinfecting smile is also one of the most iconic and memorable ones.
The ad campaign also featured 18-year-old Kate Moss, whose career and popularity began with this brand. Together with Wahlberg, she starred in an ad for the legendary unisex perfume Calvin Klein One, as well as in an ad for jeans, which again shocked the public - except for this garment, she was wearing nothing else.
Kate already had a scandalous image, so they worked perfectly with the Calvin Klein brand. They collaborated for quite a long time, until in 2003 Natalia Vodianova came to replace her. She continued the tradition - the same type of baby face, slim and at the same time sexy figure.
In 2007, the brand still continued to amaze - a black guy, actor Djimon Hounsou, starred in an ad for the CK underwear for men line for the first time. This gave a new impetus to the development of the brand, which began to move in a rebellious direction.
Two years later, Calvin Klein faced a scandal again. The brand decided to go beyond and create lingerie for girls with curvaceous shapes, which was able to adequately represent the hot Eva Mendes. The outspoken commercial, which starred the actress, has been called "pornographic" and "sexy as hell."
It should be noted that the overwhelming majority of CK advertising photos are laconic black and white shots. There is nothing superfluous in them, only an emphasis on the product itself and the body of the model.
The brand's philosophy has always been provocative, advocating that sexuality has no boundaries. This approach could not come easily, so at one time Calvin Klein faced many legal proceedings.
In 1995, an investigation began that accused the brand of exploiting minors in sex advertising. The public is demanding a ban on provocative advertising with young Brooke, and a number of major publications are supporting her.
In order to prevent the destruction of his company, Klein is forced to obey, after which all charges against him were dropped.
The brand has faced litigation more than once, as the designer never stopped creating ad campaigns that shocked society.He paid millions in lawsuits and publicly apologized as sales of his brand continued to grow. No one disputes that it was scandals that became one of the components of CK's success, becoming part of the company's image.
Lines
- The Calvin Klein Collection is a luxury mono-brand line that produces the highest quality lingerie, apparel and accessories.
- CK Calvin Klein - inexpensive casual clothing and footwear.
- Calvin Klein (White Label) - Sportswear and footwear.
- Calvin Klein Jeans - denim clothing.
- Calvin Klein Golf - Golf apparel, footwear and accessories.
- Calvin Klein Watches & Jewelry - exclusive minimalist watches and jewelry;
- Calvin Klein Home - Stylish apparel and home accessories.
- Calvin Klein Underwear is a line of famous underwear.
Range
Underwear
Previously, lingerie was ugly but practical, or uncomfortable but seductive. That all changed with the advent of Calvin Klein Underwear - briefs and bras became comfortable and sexy at the same time.
The most popular and today are cotton models with a wide elastic band on which the brand's logo is applied. The assortment includes classic models, tanga panties, thongs, bikinis and shorts, so each girl can choose the model that suits her.
Bras are also varied - they are comfortable tops, sleek models with underwire and push-ups. Of course, it is not complete without lace models, nevertheless, they are always restrained and laconic. There are no unnecessary elements, only thin cotton and delicate lace, which is created to emphasize the beauty of the female body.
Swimwear, presented in the range, will invariably retain the brand's concept - invariable minimalism and restrained colors, but at the same time they make the figure seductive and sexy.
clothing
The Calvin Klein Home line presents homewear in which you will feel comfortable and attractive. This can be a thin robe, cotton pajama pants and a T-shirt, or shorts with a tank top.
You can complement your home look with a sweatshirt or sweatshirt, which will be indispensable in the winter season.
Since it was this brand that propelled jeans into the big world of fashion, a pair of denim trousers with the coveted CK label are still the epitome of impeccable style and taste.
Jeans with branded “omega” seam on the back pockets are always high quality and discreet minimalism. The assortment includes a variety of models, both classic and trendy - with scuffs, holes and other design elements.
T-shirts with the CK logo never went out of style. They were especially popular in the 90s, and now, with the return to fashion of this era, they have again gained unprecedented popularity. The brand proves once again that brevity and simplicity are incredibly beautiful and stylish.
Almost every line contains a variety of outerwear for every taste. Of course, down jackets are the most popular. Many of them are short quilted jackets, which are popular with young people. They are comfortable and lightweight - perfect for everyday wear.
There are longer options - down-padded coats. All models have a discreet, discreet design reminiscent of a sporty style. The same applies to the coat - medium length, classic cut, neutral colors. Sometimes there are models with a fur trim on the hood.
The outerwear of this brand is aimed at active and purposeful residents of the metropolis.
Shoes
All CK footwear on display retains the brand's concept. These are always restrained models without frills and pretentious decor, regardless of the line. The assortment includes sandals and sandals, flip flops and flip flops in a sporty style with the Calvin Klein logo, shoes with and without heels.
The greatest demand is for casual sneakers, which can serve as an excellent alternative to sneakers from famous sports brands. Made of genuine leather, they are comfortable and comfortable to wear.
Accessories
The key to success of Calvin Klein watches is impeccable style and traditional Swiss quality. They are produced under a separate brand СK Watch Co. Ltd., which was created through collaborations between the CK brand and the renowned watchmaker Swatch Group.
The first watch of the brand, aimed at young dynamic people, was released in 1997. Bright design and presence of a corporate logo among many other manufacturers.
Every year a new collection of watches is released, which is divided into three areas: designer models, classic women and classic men.
Recently, the Flash model has been popular - it is a wide metal bracelet on which the dial merges with the case. These watches are incredibly stylish and absolutely versatile. They will look good with casual wear, business and even evening looks.
The best selling model has always been the Reversible. In them, the clasp is located under the dial, and the leather strap is usually double-sided.
Calvin Klein bags and wallets are distinguished by their understated designs and soothing colors. Previously, each model was combined with all the clothes presented in the collection. Now accessories belong to a separate line, so the assortment has become more diverse.
It presents various everyday roomy models - shoppers, tots and hobos, and compact crossbody with a long strap. There are also small elegant clutches for publication.
Bags and wallets are available in leather or classic tapestry with the brand's monogram.
All Calvin Klein accessories are designed to reject the clutter and pay special attention to detail. This is the main concept of the line that has been preserved for years.
Perfumery
The first perfume of the brand was released in 1978, but this attempt was unsuccessful. Despite this, Klein did not give up trying to create the perfect scent, and he succeeded. In 1985, the Obsession perfume was released, for which Kate Moss starred naked.
This was followed by the release of the high-profile iconic fragrances Eternity (1988), Escape (1991) and, finally, in 1994, the unisex perfume CK One was created, which critics consider the best creation of the brand.
The loudest and most popular fragrance so far is without a doubt Euphoria, released in 2005. She was honored with the prestigious FiFi Awards - a kind of analogue of the Oscar, which is awarded for achievements in the field of perfumery.
How to distinguish an original from a fake?
Calvin Klein is one of the most frequently counterfeited brands. In particular, this applies to underwear, perfumes and wristwatches.
The latter must necessarily have a packaging with a logo, a quality certificate and a guarantee from the manufacturer. Any model has an original test on the case, strap and buckle - this allows you to distinguish even a very high-quality copy.
Remember that genuine CK watches are quite expensive - the highest quality surgical steel is used for manufacturing, and a third of the cost is a leather strap.
When choosing Calvin Klein perfumes, pay attention to the packaging - there must be a hologram on it, and on the bottom - a special batch code that allows you to check not only the authenticity, but also the shelf life of the fragrance. It is worth noting that the cost of CK perfumes is in the middle price category, so most girls can purchase original perfumes without harming their wallet.
Reviews
Despite the success and popularity of the brand, reviews of Calvin Klein products are mixed. Girls note that jeans, for example, can be of different quality - some are worn for years, while others fade and lose their attractive appearance after the first wash.
It all depends on the line in which you purchase the item of your choice. If it is inexpensive, then there is no point in counting on luxury quality, and, on the contrary, all items from the premium line will delight you both in appearance, quality, and long-term wear.