Raf Simons Leaves Calvin Klein | Brand Won't Show During New York Fashion Week

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Raf Simons Leaves Calvin Klein | Brand Won't Show During New York Fashion Week

On Friday the Belgian designer Raf Simons and Calvin Klein announced that they were parting ways amicably eight months before his contact was up for renewal. Calvin Klein will not show during New York fashion week.

EYE| Raf Simons Unveils American Quilts Collab Of 100 Cassina Feltri Armchairs At Design Miami/Basel 2018

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Calvin Klein Chief Creative Officer Raf Simons unveils the full range of his cohesive design vision with its first installation at Design Miami/Basel. Housed in an authentic American barn, Raf Simons unveils a limited edition collection collaboration by Gaetano Pesce of 100 Cassina Feltri armchairs upholstered in vintage one-of-a-kind American heirloom quilts.

Calvin Klein house codes are applied to each one of the numbered armchair’s interior upholstery featuring quilt’s that date back to the 19th and 20th centuries. armchairs numbered 1 – 50 will be available for purchase at the fair, while the remaining 50 – 100 will be made available for purchase through Cassina at a later date.

EYE: A Bold Calvin Klein Reboot Goes For American Brand Gold In The Shadow Of Charlotte's White Nationalism

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EYE: A Bold Calvin Klein Reboot Goes For American Brand Gold In The Shadow Of Charlotte's White Nationalism

Without a doubt, this is the most dramatic 180-degree turn in the history of a great luxury brand. Ironically, in deciding to stock a collection of home wares, displayed in the context of Ruby's celebration of the American vintage quilts, Homer Laughlin coffee mugs and Rose Cabat's ceramic "Feelies" sold alongside Calvin Klein bedding, Simons enters Ralph Lauren territory.

Raf Simons assumed creative control of Calvin Klein in 2016, the number of retailers stocking the brand has increased tenfold, as stressed-out retailers strive for enticing relevance in the age of Amazon. It's interesting to watch the evolution of Calvin Klein in the age of Trump.

It's good that people of intelligence and vision are trying to understand America at the very moment America is trying to understand itself. In a country blinded with the golden glow of torches held high by white nationalists in Charlottesville last week, the color of optimism is under assault. Still, an estimated 40,000 people showed up in Boston Saturday to protest white nationalism and the resurgence of a bold racism under Trump. As Trump follows unlimited gold for his family financial coffers, we will follow the future of bold yellow optimism. America is doing much soul-searching at this moment.  ~ Anne