傳了好一陣子的謠言終於成真！Calvin Klein終於正式宣佈Raf Simons被任命為掌管品牌全線設計的首席創意長！過去三年，他曾為Dior帶來簡約中蘊含優雅的雋永風格，儘管後來為了「個人因素」決定離開，但Raf Simos的去向一直是相關產業關注的焦點。如今，這則人事消息不僅使時尚界大為驚喜，更令人期待日後他將如何與新東家攜手前進。
據悉，Raf Simons與Dior之間的競業限制協議期限到七月底，這也就完美解釋了儘管先前謠言滿天飛，但Calvin Klein與Raf Simons卻沒有做出任何回應的原因，甚至品牌創辦人Calvin Klein先前接受訪問時還說：「其實大家都知道會接任的人是誰了，只是礙於某些原因還不能公布。」
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「Raf Simons成為Calvin Klein的創意總監一事，對品牌而言是至關重要的全新篇章。」Calvin Klein的執行長Steve Shiffman說道：「我非常有信心，這個決定將會對Calvin Klein有非常顯著的影響，Raf Simons對現代時尚的傑出貢獻，大家有目共睹；在他的引領之下，Calvin Klein享譽國際的品牌地位將會更加穩固。」更令人感到喜悅的是，Calvin Klein甚至任命Raf Simons長期以來的得力助手：Pieter Mulier為負責男、女裝設計的創意總監，在Raf Simons的領導之下，他將負責注入頂頭上司的風格理念於設計之中，並成為品牌與服飾、配件等設計團隊之間的溝通橋樑。
在今年四月，Calvin Klein前任男、女裝創意總監Francisco Costa與Italo Zucchelli雙雙離開，這也驅使品牌為日後的全球創意策略重新鋪路，企圖打造出風格全面一致的Calvin Klein，並期許全球零售額能達到100億美元。因此，Raf Simons要扛下的是Calvin Klein企業旗下所有品牌創作方向和視覺呈現，包含Calvin Klein Collection、Calvin Klein Platinum、Calvin Klein、Calvin Klein Jeans、Calvin Klein Underwear和Calvin Klein Home等；根據這項新安排，他還必須構思所有大大小小的品牌形象，包含內衣、香水及家居用品的廣告，而這些都是Raf Simons過去在Dior時渴望擁有的權力，畢竟當初Dior的男裝部分並不由他負責。
《璀璨風華‧Dior之夜》前任創意總監Raf Simons首度公開神秘設計過程
Calvin Klein成功宣傳的不二心法 「唯一準則就是，不要將焦點放在商品身上。」
除此之外，Raf Simons過去在Dior的豐沛經驗，更有助於Calvin Klein在配件系列的銷售狀況。配件一直是高級時尚品牌賺取利潤的關鍵之一，而這對此方面尚未建立起相當聲譽的Calvin Klein而言，無疑是錦上添花。
而這也給了Raf Simons絕佳的發展舞台，他是這世代中最具有才華、天賦的設計師之一，他富有盛名的極簡主義與青年文化之間有很深的聯繫，而這些都恰巧都是Calvin Klein為人所知的重點風格；儘管手握優勢，但顯然Raf Simons還是得進一步思量，自己是否已經準備好以全新身分與群眾溝通？因為過去他曾表示：「時尚變成一種流行，我不知道這到底是好是壞，我只知道它曾經是種菁英文化；我也不曉得若認為時尚是種只為特定人群服務的菁英文化，是應該感到羞愧或是根本不該坦白？但現在的高級時尚確實讓每個人都有機會觸及了。」
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不過Raf Simons向來不諱言表達身處在現今時尚體系底下的壓力，其中最大的因素就在於時間不足，但為什麼這次他依然選擇了一個規模龐大的時尚品牌？「嚴格說來，這對時尚界而言不全然是件壞事，但對我起不了什麼作用，因為我不是那種喜歡速戰速決的人，」在過去的一次專訪中，Raf Simons告訴國外媒體說：「如果有更多時間，我就會拒絕更多機會，將所有精力與想法都放在同一件事情上，但這也不好，因為當你擁有充裕的時間，就有可能會專注到一種無可復加的地步。」
時尚界普遍認為Raf Simons的加入，可以提升Calvin Klein的品牌形象，但這位來自比利時的時尚設計師身價可是不斐，雖然Calvin Klein沒有透露以多少代價請到Raf Simons，但傳聞他一年的總薪資最高可達2000萬美元。不過可以肯定的是，Raf Simons將會在伸展台上發表他為新東家設計的2017年秋季系列，這也必定成為屆時紐約時裝週中，最讓人期待的一場秀。
Raf Simons：「我不想做未經思考的服裝系列」
Calvin Klein, Inc. today announced the appointment of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer of the brand, effective immediately. ⠀ Mr. Simons will lead the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across the Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Platinum, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Home brands. As part of his role as Chief Creative Officer, Mr. Simons will oversee all aspects of Design, Global Marketing and Communications, and Visual Creative Services. Mr. Simons’ first collections will debut for the Fall 2017 season. ⠀ The appointment of Mr. Simons as Chief Creative Officer marks the implementation of Calvin Klein’s new global creative strategy, announced in April 2016, to unify all Calvin Klein brands under one creative vision. The strategy comes as part of a global evolution of the Calvin Klein brand, which began with the reacquisition of the Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear businesses in 2013. As Calvin Klein looks to grow the brand to $10 billion in global retail sales, this new leadership is intended to further strengthen the brand’s premium positioning worldwide and pave the way for future long-term global growth. ⠀ The arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,” said Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc. “Not since Mr. Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact on its future. Raf’s exceptional contributions have shaped and modernized fashion as we see it today and, under his direction, Calvin Klein will further solidify its position as a leading global lifestyle brand.” ⠀ As part of the creative strategy for the apparel and accessories business, Calvin Klein also announced the hire of Pieter Mulier as Creative Director, reporting directly to Mr. Simons. Mr. Mulier will be responsible for executing Mr. Simons' creative and design vision for all men’s and women’s apparel and accessories lines within the Calvin Klein brand. A photo posted by Calvin Klein (@calvinklein) on Aug 2, 2016 at 7:00am PDT
Calvin Klein, Inc. today announced the appointment of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer of the brand, effective immediately. ⠀ Mr. Simons will lead the creative strategy of the Calvin Klein brand globally across the Calvin Klein Collection, Calvin Klein Platinum, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein Home brands. As part of his role as Chief Creative Officer, Mr. Simons will oversee all aspects of Design, Global Marketing and Communications, and Visual Creative Services. Mr. Simons’ first collections will debut for the Fall 2017 season. ⠀ The appointment of Mr. Simons as Chief Creative Officer marks the implementation of Calvin Klein’s new global creative strategy, announced in April 2016, to unify all Calvin Klein brands under one creative vision. The strategy comes as part of a global evolution of the Calvin Klein brand, which began with the reacquisition of the Calvin Klein Jeans and Calvin Klein Underwear businesses in 2013. As Calvin Klein looks to grow the brand to $10 billion in global retail sales, this new leadership is intended to further strengthen the brand’s premium positioning worldwide and pave the way for future long-term global growth. ⠀ The arrival of Raf Simons as Chief Creative Officer signifies a momentous new chapter for Calvin Klein,” said Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, Inc. “Not since Mr. Klein himself was at the company has it been led by one creative visionary, and I am confident that this decision will drive the Calvin Klein brand and have a significant impact on its future. Raf’s exceptional contributions have shaped and modernized fashion as we see it today and, under his direction, Calvin Klein will further solidify its position as a leading global lifestyle brand.” ⠀ As part of the creative strategy for the apparel and accessories business, Calvin Klein also announced the hire of Pieter Mulier as Creative Director, reporting directly to Mr. Simons. Mr. Mulier will be responsible for executing Mr. Simons' creative and design vision for all men’s and women’s apparel and accessories lines within the Calvin Klein brand.
A photo posted by Calvin Klein (@calvinklein) on Aug 2, 2016 at 7:00am PDT
資料來源：WWD、BOF、nofashion、AnOther、NY Times
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