After much speculation, Raf Simons has been announced as the new chief creative officer at Calvin Klein, after his departure from Dior last autumn.
Simons has been rumoured to be in line for the newly created role since Francisco Costa left the label in April, when it was revealed that the brand would be uniting menswear and womenswear under one creative vision. However, Simons is thought to have been subject to a non-compete agreement by Dior's parent brand LVMH until the end of July, ensuring that the formal announcement had to be delayed.
The brand confirmed the Belgian designer's appointment with posts on social media accounts.
'The arrival of Raf Simons as chief creative officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,' said Steve Shiffman, Calvin Klein's CEO. '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.'
The role of chief creative officer is a huge one: on top of ready-to-wear, Simons will direct all brands under the Calvin Klein umbrella, including lines like ck Calvin Klein and Calvin Klein Jeans. Business of Fashion reports that the designer will also have total creative control over everything from campaign imagery to the brand's homewares.
Pieter Mulier, who previously worked alongside Simons as studio director at Dior, will join Calvin Klein as creative director, responsible for 'executing Simons' creative and design vision for all men’s and women’s apparel and accessories lines within the Calvin Klein brand.'
On June 9th we wrote...
Ever since Raf Simons made the shock decision to leave his position as creative director of Dior last autumn, the fashion rumour mill has been in overdrive, with speculation rife about the Belgian-born designer's next move.
Then, as the news broke that Calvin Klein's womenswear creative director Francisco Costa would be departing the label, whisperings began to circulate that the US brand had lined up Simons as his successor. Given the announcement that Calvin Klein would be uniting its womenswear and menswear divisions under one director, Simons seemed a natural choice.
In a new interview with Sirius XM radio host Andy Cohen, Calvin Klein himself has dropped some heavy hints, adding further fuel to the rumours.
'They just finally made changes in the design staff,' he revealed. 'They are doing something that I had hoped they would have done, which is replace me. Find someone who can with a singular vision oversee everything that is creative.'
'They won't announce who it is publicly because it's under contract. But the whole industry knows.'
Raf is currently subject to a non-compete agreement with Dior's parent company LVMH, which is set to expire in July.
Watch this space...
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