Calvin Klein Collection Francisco Costa and
Italo Zucchelli

Calvin Klein Collection (Francisco Costa & Italo Zucchelli)
Photo: Kevin Tachman

Helmed by the brand’s award winning in-house creative directors—Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli—Calvin Klein Collection represents modern elegance and timeless luxury. Each of the talented designers was originally hand-picked by Mr. Calvin Klein to ensure the legacy of the brand. Shown on the runways of New York and Milan, Calvin Klein Collection features sophisticated and innovative ready-to-wear, footwear, and accessories for men and women.

Francisco Costa assumed the role of Women’s Creative Director of Calvin Klein Collection and debuted his first collection for the house in 2003. Mr. Costa grew up in the small Brazilian town of Guarani and moved to New York City in the early 1990s. While studying English, he enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) where his talent quickly earned him an Idea Como/Young Designers of America award, which led to further study at FIT and abroad in Italy. He went on to work for Bill Blass, Oscar de la Renta, and Gucci before joining Calvin Klein, Inc. Known for his iconic and minimal yet elegant designs, Mr. Costa’s work has received numerous honors, including two Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) Womenswear Designer of the Year awards in 2006 and 2008. Additionally, in 2011 Mr. Costa received the Award of Inspiration at the amfAR Inspiration Gala in São Paulo, Brazil.

Italo Zucchelli was appointed Men’s Creative Director of Calvin Klein Collection in 2003. Mr. Zucchelli grew up near the Italian coastal town of La Spezia and is a 1988 graduate of the Polimoda International Institute of Design and Marketing in Florence, the sister school of New York’s FIT. He also studied at the Faculty of Architecture within the University of Florence. Prior to joining Calvin Klein, Inc., he worked with Romeo Gigli and Jil Sander. Mr. Zucchelli loves to distinguish each season by adding an unexpected edge to his designs—creating new fits and fabrics while respecting the brand’s vocabulary and design roots. Since assuming his position as Men’s Creative Director, Mr. Zucchelli’s work has received critical acclaim and recognition, including the CFDA’s Menswear Designer of the Year award in 2009.