The History of Calvin Klein: From 1968 to a Global Fashion Powerhouse

1. The Beginning: A Coat Shop in New York (1968)

Calvin Klein founded his namesake label in 1968 with childhood friend Barry Schwartz. The brand started with a simple idea: clean, modern, understated design.

Klein’s early pieces — tailored coats and simple dresses — stood out in an era dominated by loud prints and maximalism. His minimalist approach quickly caught the attention of New York buyers, and by the early 1970s, Calvin Klein was a rising star.

2. The Denim Revolution: Brooke Shields & the 1980s Explosion

Calvin Klein didn’t just make jeans — he changed what jeans meant.

In 1980, the brand launched one of the most controversial and memorable ads in fashion history featuring a young Brooke Shields saying:

“Nothing comes between me and my Calvins.”

The campaign was provocative, bold, and instantly iconic. It catapulted Calvin Klein Jeans into a cultural phenomenon and cemented the brand’s reputation for pushing boundaries.

3. The Rise of Calvin Klein Underwear (1990s)

If the 1980s belonged to denim, the 1990s belonged to underwear.

The brand introduced Calvin Klein Underwear with campaigns featuring Mark Wahlberg, Kate Moss, and later Antonio Sabàto Jr. These ads were everywhere — billboards, magazines, subways — and they redefined what underwear advertising could be.

Calvin Klein essentially invented designer underwear as a mainstream category.

4. CK One: The Fragrance That Defined a Generation (1994)

In 1994, Calvin Klein launched CK One, the world’s first major unisex fragrance.

It was fresh, clean, gender‑neutral — and decades ahead of its time.

The campaign featured diverse models, androgynous styling, and a message of youth culture unity. CK One became a global bestseller and remains one of the most successful fragrances ever created.

5. The Brand Expands: Lifestyle, Runway, and Global Growth (2000–2015)

Throughout the 2000s, Calvin Klein expanded into:

• Ready‑to‑wear

• Accessories

• Footwear

• Home goods

• High‑end runway collections

The brand maintained its signature aesthetic: clean, modern, sensual minimalism.

During this period, Calvin Klein became a global lifestyle powerhouse, with stores across North America, Europe, and Asia.

6. The Modern Era: Celebrity Power & Cultural Relevance (2016–2024)

Calvin Klein continued to dominate pop culture with campaigns featuring:

• Justin Bieber

• Kendall Jenner

• Shawn Mendes

• Kaia Gerber

• Jeremy Allen White

• Jung Kook (BTS)

• Rosalía

These campaigns generated billions of impressions and kept the brand at the center of global conversation.

7. The 2025–2026 Rebirth: Veronica Leoni & the Return to High Fashion

In 2025, Calvin Klein appointed Veronica Leoni as creative director, marking a major turning point.

Her debut collection in 2026 revived the brand’s runway presence with:

• Sculptural tailoring

• Clean lines

• Sensual minimalism

• A modern reinterpretation of CK’s DNA

Fashion critics praised the collection as a return to form, signaling a new era for the brand.

8. Calvin Klein Today: A $9B Global Icon

As of 2026, Calvin Klein generates more than $9 billion in global retail sales across:

• Apparel

• Denim

• Underwear

• Fragrances

• Accessories

The brand remains one of the most recognizable names in fashion, known for:

• Minimalist design

• Cultural influence

• Bold advertising

• Timeless appeal

Few brands have stayed relevant across five decades — Calvin Klein is one of them.