Only moments ago Calvin Klein, Inc. has made official the Appointment of Fashion Designer Raf Simons as the Chief Creative Officer of the Calvin Klein Brand. Following months of speculations and rumours which quite frankly since the departure of the Designers Francisco Costa & Italo Zucchelli have all pointed in the direction of Simons.
Mr. Simons will lead the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across the Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Platinum, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Home brands. As part of his role as Chief Creative Officer, Mr. Simons will oversee all aspects of Design, Global Marketing and Communications, and Visual Creative Services. Mr. Simons’ first collections will debut for the Fall 2017 season. The appointment of Mr. Simons as Chief Creative Officer marks the implementation of Calvin Klein’s new global creative strategy, announced in April 2016, to unify all Calvin Klein brands under one creative vision. The strategy comes as part of a global evolution of the Calvin Klein brand, which began with the reacquisition of the Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear businesses in 2013. As Calvin Klein looks to grow the brand to $10 billion in global retail sales, this new leadership is intended to further strengthen the brand’s premium positioning worldwide and pave the way for future long-term global growth. – from Calvin Klein, Inc.
The new appointment is close to home for the American label, with appointed the famed Belgian designer at the helm the aesthetic of the house is in safe hands. Italo Zucchelli who tailored the contemporary crisp lines of Calvin Klein Collection has for years been part of the Jil Sander atelier, nevertheless Raf Simons himself was the creative director of Sander’s house for more than a season.
The arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein, Not since Mr. Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact on its future. Raf’s exceptional contributions have shaped and modernized fashion as we see it today and, under his direction, Calvin Klein will further solidify its position as a leading global lifestyle brand.” – from Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc.
Furthermore the label is to also enlist Pieter Mulier as Creative Director, who will work directly with Simons. Mr. Mulier will be in charge of executing Mr. Simons’ creative and design vision for men’s and women’s ready to wear and apparel lines and accessories. Mulier is also to manage all men’s and women’s design teams within the Calvin Klein brand, under Mr. Simons’ leadership.
