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Calvin Klein

By JENELLE CLEARY

It all began in 1968 when Calvin Klein and a friend branched into designing and selling women's coats.

And the rest, as they say, is history.

Soon demand was for Klein to introduce a sportswear collection and through the 70s he gradually expanded his range of women's clothing that ranged from casual sportswear to a full ready-to-wear line.

In the late 70s, Klein changed the way jeans were perceived and gave them a sexy edge that had not been seen before. These were the first designer jeans.

A young Brooke Shields was recruited for the advertising campaign, which is still remembered for changing the face of denim and giving it a sexiness that is still around today.

Klein was huge at this time and in 1982, he launched his men's underwear range and changed the way men's underwear was viewed. Then came the move into fragrance with scents such as Obsession, Eternity and Escape.

The launch of CK One in 1993 provided the symbol of a unisex fragrance that revolutionised the fragrance market. The scent appealed to both male and female and was an instant success.

Klein was awarded the Coty award in 1973, 1974 and 1975 and, in 1982, 1983 and 1986, he won the Council of Fashion Designers of America Award for outstanding design in both women's wear and men's wear.

He now operates a global fashion, design and retail empire. He is recognised in collections for women, men, homewares, CK for women and men and CK Jeans for women, men and children.

Internationally, Calvin Klein holds a presence right around the world and continues to grow and dominate markets. Whether you wear CK socks or perfume, the contribution made to fashion by Klein has been enormous and looks like being so for many years to come.