Minimalists rejoice
Calvin Klein have finally put us all out of our misery and announced the appointment of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer of the brand. Effective immediately, the ex-Dior and Jil Sander genius will debut his first collection for the brand this September, for the autumn/winter 2017 season, presumably on the New York Fashion Week schedule where the brand usually shows.
Simons will be heading up the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Platinum, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Home.
In case you haven't noticed, the iconic American brand have been ramping up their advertising campaigns of late, harkening back to the uber-cool reputation it was built on in the 90s. Since reacquiring the Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear businesses in 2013, they’ve teamed up with old faces including Kate Moss (who could ever forget her early ninties campaigns for the brand with Mark Wahlberg), and new, with everyone from Bella Hadid to Justin Bieber fronting the brand's recent campaigns. In keeping with this theme, the brand took a millennial's approach to announcing the news and used social media — including Instagram, Twitter and Facebook.
It’s a move that the fashion industry have anticipated for a long time. And considering Raf left Dior back in October 2015, one we’ve been waiting almost a year for. Dior also took their time in announcing Simon’s successor, Valentino’s co-creative director Maria Grazia Chiuri. But with almost everything in place - the next steps for Calvin Klein’s recently departed Creative Director Francisco Costa remain a mystery - we are literally bursting with excitement over what delicious minimalism the Belgian designer will bring to the brand that near-founded minimalism in the ninties. It’s quite literally a match made in fashion heaven.
‘The arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,’ said Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc. ‘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.’
As part of this new creative strategy for the brand, Calvin Klein also announced the hire of Pieter Mulier, Simons' long-standing right hand man and studio director, who fans of the documentary ‘Dior & I’, will recognise as the unexpected star of the show. Under the esteemed title of Creative Director, Mulier will handle the creative and design vision for men’s and women’s ready-to-wear, as well as the bridge and accessories lines.
The countdown to fashion month starts here.