Klein, Calvin

Born in New York, USA, in 1942. Opened his first store in 1968 in partnership with long-time friend and businessman Barry Schwartz. The simple but sophisticated style of his clothes soon gained him recognition and this became universal when actress Brooke Shields modelled his designer jeans in the late 1970s.

Klein popularised designer men's underwear in 1982 and following the success of his fragrances, Obsession, Eternity and Escape, his CK One became the first of the unisex fragrances. In September 2003, Francisco Costa, a 34-year-old Brazilian fashion designer, took over as design director to bring an end to Klein's 30-year reign as head of his fashion empire.

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