Calvin Klein

From his provocative Brooke Shield's ad campaign in the 80s to the very popular Mark Wahlberg underwear ads of the 90s, the name Calvin Klein is synonymous with elegant and simple all American fashion. Without a doubt, one of the most successful American designers of all time, the Calvin Klein empire, which began by selling women's coats in the late 60s, has grown to encompass everything from men and women's underwear to cosmetics, fragrances, jewellery, and home décor items. This is his life.

1942: Calvin Richard Klein was born on November 19 in the Bronx, New York.

1962: Graduates from the Fashion Institute of Technology and begins work as an apprentice in a suit house on 7th Avenue in New York.

1968: With the help of childhood friend, Barry Shwartz, creates Calvin Klein Limited, a coat shop in the York Hotel. Makes $50,000 (approximately N7.5m) sale to Bonwit Teller, who accidentally stepped off the wrong elevator floor.

1969: Recognised for his simple, clean, minimal designs, makes his first appearance on the cover of Vogue magazine.

1971: Adds lingerie, blazers, and sportswear to his women's collection.

1973: Wins first award, the Coty Award for his 74-piece Womenswear collection, and later receives this award three consecutive years.

1975: Creates a craze in designer-jeans, when he puts his name on the back pocket.

1977: Increases his annual revenue to $30 million (approx. N4.5b), and acquires licenses for sheets, shoes, belts, scarves and furs with a total revenue of $4 million (approx. N600m) per item.

1978: Introduces his menswear collection, fragrance and cosmetics line, and sells 200,000 pairs of his famous jeans during its first week on the market.

1979: In a controversial ad, 15-year-old Brooke Shields utters one of the most memorable lines in Klein's ad history; "Nothing comes between me and my Calvins." With the popularity of his jeans, controls 20 per cent of the designer-jeans market.

1980: Introduces a line of women's boxer shorts, as well as an underwear collection for men. The popularity of both ventures grosses a total of $70 million (approx. N10.5b) in a year.

1981: Fortune magazine estimates his annual income at $8.5 million (approx. N1.3b) a year.

1982: Wins his first Council of Fashion Designers of America award and enters the underwear market.

1985: Creates the fragrances, Eternity and Obsession for men and women respectively.

1989: Klein's fragrance and cosmetics line is purchased by a Unilever subsidiary.

1990: Actor and one time pop star Mark Wahlberg, also known as "Marky Mark", appears in the very popular giant billboard ad, wearing his "Calvins" mens underwear.

1992: In the midst of almost going bankrupt, recovers the profitability of his company with highly successful fragrance and underwear lines.

1993: Wins award for "America's Best Designer" for his simple "all-American" designs.

1995: With a license, launches the CK Home Collection with towels, sheets, and tableware.

1996: Is named one of the 25 most influential Americans in Time Magazine

1997: Calvin Klein Jeans reach a total sale of $500 million (approx. N75b).

1999: Is approached by luxury powerhouses, LVMH and Pinault Printemps Redoute, in the hopes of purchasing the brand.

2002: Calvin Klein Inc. is sold to shirt maker Phillips Van Heusen Corp, with retail sales of more than $3 billion (approx. N450b).

2003: Receives an honorary doctorate from New York's Fashion Institute of Technology.

2004: Company buys its CK.com domain name.

2008: Sponsors America's Next Top Male Model, where the winner of the show is awarded a $100,000 (approx. N15m) contract, in addition to a runway show, bonus and a start to his fashion career.

Source: Wikipedia.com, Notablebiographies.com, Answers.com