At long last, Calvin Klein has confirmed possibly the worst-kept secret in recent fashion history: Raf Simons is its new Chief Creative Officer. Apparently Simons’ non-compete agreement with his previous employer (he served as women’s creative director of Christian Dior Couture for three years) has finally expired, allowing the new couple to finally share the news via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and so forth. (Although Calvin Klein himself pretty much spilled the beans during an interview with Andy Cohen back in June).
“The arrival of Raf Simons as chief creative officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,” Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc, told Business of Fashion. “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.” Simons will helm the creative director of all of the brands under the company’s umbrella — everything from the brand’s racy campaign imagery to the logo placement on your Calvin Klein down-alternative pillows will be Raf-approved.
Needless to say, Raf, king of all that is minimal and cutting-edge and whose own eponymous line draws heavily from youth culture, is a natural fit the social media savvy, cool-kid approved fashion house. We look forward to Simons’ debut Calvin Klein Collection for the Fall 2017 season — no doubt it will merit the sartorial savant’s rumored $18 million annual salary.
[ via Business of Fashion ]
