World-class fashion designer Calvin Klein was born on the 19th November in 1932 in the Bronx, New York.  He was brought up in a middle class Jewish community that consisted of first and second class immigrants.  He was passionate about drawing and fashion, and when in his teenage years he would frequently spend time drawing sketches of women in dresses and suits.  He went on to receive many accolades within the fashion world.  This article offers biographical information about Calvin Klein.

Klein graduated from the High School of Art and Design, and then learned apparel design at Manhattan’s preeminent Fashion Institute of Technology.  Later, in 1968 Klein decided that he wanted to create his own clothing company.  This was as a result of being inspired by the new and natural style of the urban youth in New York.  A friend from his youth, Barry Schwartz, gave Klein the financial support that was needed for this pursuit.  The clothing took off when Bonwit Teller purchased a large amount of Klein’s stock, $50,000 worth, and displayed it in their department store.   

Klein started to take the world of fashion by storm, and he was talked about everywhere.  His trademark jeans came about in the 1970s.  They were cut tight and had Calvin Klein on the back pocket.  Following this came the boxers and briefs in 1982.  Klein was now taking over the underwear fashion industry also.  It was in the late 1980s that Klein took over the perfume market, when he released Obsession and Eternity.  This expansion of the Calvin Klein label continued into swimwear, accessories and sunglasses.   

It was not until the 1990s that Klein’s designer range became more affordable, with the manufacture of casualwear under the name CK. Soon Klein was producing bath towels and bed linen.  More recently, Klein has released a cosmetics range, which was only sold in a select number of department stores.

Included in his list of achievements is the award for outstanding design in both women’s wear and men’s wear in 1982 from the Council of Fashion Designers of America Award.  He also won the Coty Award for three years running, in 1973, 1974 and 1975.