Thought you were up to date with all the new names, positions, and switches in the name of fashion? Well, you’re probably already a name or two behind with another major shuffle in the industry, following Dior’s new female head.
This time, the spotlight is on ex-Dior creative director Raf Simons.
After his departure from Dior in Paris and months of speculation as to where he’d go to next, Simons is now cemented as the new creative director of Calvin Klein.
As with all young and hip businesses in the industry nowadays, the brand announced the news via Instagram, stating that the Belgian fashion designer will be overseeing all of the creative processes from the Calvin Klein Collection. CEO of Calvin Klein, Steve Shiffman, stated in early April, months before the official announcement amidst rumours that “the [potential] arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter or Calvin Klein.”
![Raf Simons [image source: Calvin Klein Instagram], crowd ink, crowdink, crowdink.com, crowdink.com.au](http://crowdink.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/raf-simons-ig.jpg)
![Raf Simons [image source: New York Times], crowd ink, crowdink, crowdink.com, crowdink.com.au](http://crowdink.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/08/raf-simons2.jpg)
As Simons’ non-compete agreement with LVMH Moët Hennessey Louis Vuitton expired in July, Simons is now free of his official contract from Dior (meaning that Simons can now go design for any house he wishes to). It is yet to be seen that a critically acclaimed European designer will have major impact on a classic American household name. With so many sub-labels now under Simons’ control, from men’s, women’s and even homeware, the whole namesake and brand of Calvin Klein will undergo a complete makeover.
With Calvin Klein expected to pay Simons a salary of $18million a year, Shiffman hopes that Simons’ exceptional contributions to the industry will continue to phase into the brand of Calvin Klein to help modernise and shape the house as a leading global lifestyle brand.