Calvin Klein

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Overview

Tagline

Calvin Klein is one of the world’s leading global fashion lifestyle brands with a history of bold, non-conformist ideals that inform everything we do.
Calvin Klein is an American fashion brand founded in New York, USA, in 1968 by designer Calvin Klein and Barry K. Schwartz. It focuses on women’s and men’s apparel, underwear, denim, and fragrances, among other products, and has several lines, including CK Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, and Calvin Klein Underwear. The brand champions bold, non-conformist ideals and a minimalist, sensual aesthetic, and aims to elevate everyday essentials into iconic products. It became part of PVH in 2003.

Concept

Founded in New York in 1968, the brand’s minimalist and sensual aesthetic drives our approach to product design and communication, creating a canvas that offers the possibility of limitless self-expression.

Calvin Klein characteristics

Calvin Klein: 9 style characteristics Traits further from the centre are more prominent within this brand. Distance is not a score, and the area does not indicate brand quality or rank. Minimal & basics Polished & dressy Luxury & heritage Avant-garde & designer Decoration & playfulness Streetwear Trends & youth culture Sporty & sportswear Outdoor & functional

Main traits of Calvin Klein

Minimal & basics
Minimal design and clean everyday staples.
Trends & youth culture
Adoption of trends and connections to youth culture.
Polished & dressy
Clean silhouettes and polished, elegant dressing.

Based on an analysis of 1,232 brands across 97 criteria, this chart shows the characteristics of Calvin Klein relative to overall brand tendencies.

This chart does not define a brand’s expression or rank brands.

Related brands

Parent brands and sub-brands, ordered by founding year.

Related brands
11 brands
Founded
1968-2013
1968 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Collection
Clothing

A revived line serving as the brand’s top-tier runway offering

As of 2018, Calvin Klein Collection was positioned as the top-tier line, encompassing luxu

As of 2018, Calvin Klein Collection was positioned as the top-tier line, encompassing luxury apparel and home, and had served as the brand’s runway arm. After its business closed in 2019 as CALVIN KLEIN 205 W39 NYC, it relaunched in 2025 with a debut runway collection by Veronica Leoni. Separate from the white label, Jeans, and Underwear, it serves as the brand’s highest-end line.

1968 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Kids
Clothing

A line that extends the adult mainline to children.

Calvin Klein Kids is a line that extends the adult Calvin Klein mainline to children and b

Calvin Klein Kids is a line that extends the adult Calvin Klein mainline to children and babies. Its official website offers not only clothing but also shoes, accessories, underwear, and products for babies. In PVH’s brand organization, Calvin Klein Kids is also treated as a separate label, serving as a family-focused extension alongside Jeans and Underwear. It is positioned to broaden the range of products for children while retaining the brand’s basic codes.

1968 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Swimwear
Clothing

A line extending Underwear into summer waterside settings

Calvin Klein Swimwear is a line with a close-fitting design similar to Underwear, but with

Calvin Klein Swimwear is a line with a close-fitting design similar to Underwear, but with its use shifted to the coast and resorts. The official store offers swim shorts, swim briefs, beachwear, sunglasses, and bucket hats. Within PVH’s brand portfolio, it is classified as part of the licensed product range and serves to complement demand for summer leisurewear. While extending Underwear, its use shifts clearly to outdoor waterside settings.

1978 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Jeans
Clothing

The main casual line centered on denim

Calvin Klein Jeans is the casual expression of CALVIN KLEIN, a line centered on denim. The

Calvin Klein Jeans is the casual expression of CALVIN KLEIN, a line centered on denim. The brand definition in 2018 also described it as a brand offering jeanswear, related apparel, and accessories worldwide. Its current official store features a variety of silhouettes, including 90s Straight, and it functions alongside Underwear as a major independent line that supports brand recognition. In contrast to the broad range of clothing under the white label, it clearly covers the jeans category.

1982 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Underwear
Clothing

An underwear focus that supports brand recognition

Calvin Klein Underwear is positioned as an iconic underwear brand since 1968, offering men

Calvin Klein Underwear is positioned as an iconic underwear brand since 1968, offering men’s and women’s boxers, briefs, bras, sleepwear, and loungewear. Within PVH’s brand portfolio, it is organized as an independent line alongside Jeans and Performance, with the role of elevating everyday essentials into brand signatures. While the White Label covers a broad range of apparel, this line focuses on the category closest to the body.

1995 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Home
Lifestyle products

A line that extends the core of apparel into living spaces.

Calvin Klein Home is a lifestyle line that extends apparel design codes to home textiles s

Calvin Klein Home is a lifestyle line that extends apparel design codes to home textiles such as bedding, towels, bath rugs, and rugs. The 2024 home campaign also shows its role in bringing the brand’s design into living spaces, focusing on bed linen and bath textiles. By addressing the interior as a whole rather than clothing, it complements a living domain distinct from Jeans and Underwear.

2008 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Performance
Clothing

An active line that foregrounds functionality

Calvin Klein Performance is a function-focused line that PVH retains within its brand port

Calvin Klein Performance is a function-focused line that PVH retains within its brand portfolio, built on “innovation, fit and function.” On the current official store, Performance Gym T-shirt and Gym Tights featuring quick-drying, breathable and stretch properties are offered in the Sport section, foregrounding performance during exercise. Its role in training and active use is distinct from everyday essentials such as Jeans and Underwear.

2013 Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Platinum Label
Clothing

A bridging line connecting Collection and the main line

Calvin Klein Platinum Label was the name adopted after ck Calvin Klein, which began in Asi

Calvin Klein Platinum Label was the name adopted after ck Calvin Klein, which began in Asia in 2013, was renamed. PVH positioned it as a contemporary bridge sportswear line. It connected the runway-focused Collection with the broad product range of the main Calvin Klein line, and was rolled out in stages, first in Asia and then in Europe. Rather than serving as an adjacent line complementing White Label or Jeans, it was positioned as a more editorially focused bridging layer.

- Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Jeans Accessory
Accessories

A line of accessories and bags that complements Jeans

Calvin Klein Jeans Accessory extends Jeans’ denim and casual context into accessories. PVH

Calvin Klein Jeans Accessory extends Jeans’ denim and casual context into accessories. PVH recruitment information also lists the development of seasonal accessories, including bags, small leather goods, and belts, as part of its scope. Through bags and belts that complement the jeans themselves, it connects the world of the Jeans line to the overall outfit.

- Sub-brand
Calvin Klein Sport
Clothing

An activewear line focused on sports use

Calvin Klein Sport offers a sportswear collection for men and women, with tops, leggings,

Calvin Klein Sport offers a sportswear collection for men and women, with tops, leggings, and jackets designed for activities ranging from the gym and running to outdoor pursuits. Within PVH’s brand portfolio, it is organized as an independent label alongside Kids and focuses on occasions for wearing athletic apparel rather than everyday clothing. While Performance focuses on functional features, Sport brings together the current sportswear range as a whole.

- Sub-brand
Calvin Klein White Label
Clothing

A core line broadly representing the main brand

Calvin Klein White Label is the core line treated in PVH materials as “Calvin Klein (white

Calvin Klein White Label is the core line treated in PVH materials as “Calvin Klein (white label)” and forms part of the brand’s principal apparel offering overseen by Kevin Carrigan. In the 2018 brand structure, it was organized as the “CALVIN KLEIN” master brand spanning sportswear, outerwear, accessories, footwear, dresses, suits, bags, and home, broadly representing the main brand apart from Collection and Platinum Label.

Collaboration partners

Dates and partner brands

All collaborations
2022.04.08

Palace Skateboards

Released on April 8, 2022, as “CK1 Palace.” A large-scale capsule spanning denim, T-shirts, and fleece, as well as men’s and women’s underwear and fragrance.

Brands with shared characteristics

Brands that share a country of origin, founding period, category or designer.

Frequently asked questions about Calvin Klein

Country of origin, founding year, categories and parent brands.

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