A full 10 months after Raf Simons made the surprise announcement that he was leaving his role as creative director of Dior, it has finally been confirmed that the Belgian designer has now taken the helm at Calvin Klein.
For a reported salary of $18 million, Simons will have complete control over the entire creative output of the brand, from the design of the catwalk collection, diffusion lines, and homeware to campaign imagery for Calvin Klein Collection, fragrances, and underwear. This degree of control is something that Simons is understood to have craved at Dior, where other designers were responsible for certain areas of design and marketing.
“The arrival of Raf Simons as chief creative officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,” says Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein Inc, in a statement posted to the brand’s social media accounts. “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.”
Rumors of Raf’s appointment have swirled around the industry since April, when it was announced that incumbent designers Francisco Costa (womenswear) and Italo Zucchelli (menswear) would be leaving the brand. Raf Simons’ non-compete agreement with Dior prevented him from joining Calvin Klein sooner. His first collections for the American brand will debut for the fall/winter 17 season.
Credits
Text Charlotte Gush
Photography Willy Vanderperre