Just barely even two years in the role, Raf Simons has officially exited Calvin Klein as its Chief Creative Director.
Appointed in 2016, Raf Simons took Calvin Klein in a whirlwind of buzz and critical success in the fashion industry – from its Calvin Klein 205W39NYC collection to the Andy Warhol Collaboration and the launch of Calvin Klein By Appointment service.
However, despite the many raving reviews and awards Simons receive, the American fashion label failed to rake in the sales it needs, as pointed out by Calvin Klein’s parent PVH Corp. chief executive Emanuel Chirico, who called Simons’ work at the company a “fashion miss”.
Chirico also added, “We will cut back on a number of these planned investments in the 205 collection business, and as we move forward, we will [be taking] a more… commercial approach to this important business.”
And together with Simons’ exit, Calvin Klein has also announced that they will not be staging a fashion show at the annual New York Fashion Week this coming February 2019, in order to refocus and realign the brand for a new direction.
In an official statement, Calvin Klein (the company) says, “Both parties have amicably decided to part ways after Calvin Klein Inc. decided on a new brand direction which differs from Simons’ creative vision.”
No announcement has been made yet on the successor of Simons for the role at Calvin Klein.