Calvin Klein is returning to the catwalk after five years off the schedule, appointing a new creative director and re-launching Collection, which was shuttered in 2019. The American fashion brand has announced that Veronica Leoni will be taking on the role, and will present her first collection for the house in 2025.
“We are proud to name Veronica as creative director of Collection, the pinnacle expression of the Calvin Klein brand,” said global brand president Eva Serrano. “It was clear from our first conversations that Veronica’s life’s work had been preparing her for this moment and the opportunity to define a new era for Calvin Klein.”
Leoni is an LVMH Prize finalist and the founder of her own label Quira, known for its minimalist yet unique collections which are presented on the Milan Fashion Week schedule and sold in retailers across the globe. In the past, she has also worked closely with Phoebe Philo, while her CV includes positions at Jil Sander, Celine, Moncler and The Row.
“I am confident that her purposeful approach to design and work ethic, combined with our shared values, will further enrich our iconic brand and result in a collection that resonates with our consumers around the world,” Serrano added.
Calvin Klein catwalk, February 2017
This moves marks a new direction for Calvin Klein, reopening Collection, which closed down in 2019 as the brand stepped away from the catwalk and red carpet to focus on other parts of the business. A year previously, creative director Raf Simons had stepped down as creative director, a position he had held since 2016. He took over from Francisco Costa, who had been at the helm since 2003.
“I’m thrilled and honoured to have the opportunity to write a new chapter of the Calvin Klein story,” Leoni said. “For decades, Calvin Klein interpreted the idea of bold self-expression, and I am willing to empower it with a strong accent on style and creativity. I’m deeply thankful to Eva Serrano for her vision and trust. My career has been marked by inspiring encounters with some of the most visionary women in fashion and she is one of them.”
Leoni will begin her role this September, and will show her first collection for Calvin Klein Collection in 2025.
