Calvin Klein Underwear Celebrates 25th Anniversary

Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation [NYSE: PVH], and Calvin Klein Underwear, a division of The Warnaco Group Inc. [Nasdaq: WRNC], today announced two events to mark the 25th anniversary of the introduction of Calvin Klein Underwear. In honor of this milestone anniversary, as well as the global launch of Calvin Klein Steel, the latest product offering for men and women, Calvin Klein Underwear held a press conference this morning and will celebrate tonight in New York with a large-scale event hosted by two award-winning actors – Djimon Hounsou and Hilary Swank – within a unique custom-designed space at Calvin Klein, Inc.’s headquarters. Hounsou is currently featured in the Fall 2007 Calvin Klein Underwear campaign and Swank was featured in the brand’s Fall 2004 campaign. The invitation-only event is planned to attract hundreds of guests including fashion editors, celebrities, VIPs, models, and other notable New Yorkers. Additionally, Hounsou and Swank will be joined by several of the well-known former Calvin Klein Underwear models – including Tom Hintnaus, Joel West, Michael Bergin, Antonio Sabato, Jr., and Jessica Miller – who will join others on the red carpet this evening. Founded in 1982, Calvin Klein Underwear is credited with being the first designer underwear brand. Twenty-five years after its introduction, Calvin Klein Underwear continues to be one of the best-selling men’s and women’s designer underwear brands worldwide. Today, Calvin Klein Underwear is sold around the world in more than 400 direct-to-consumer points of distribution and its products are distributed globally on a wholesale basis through better department and specialty stores. The brand’s identifiable logo waistband is recognized around the world and achieved iconic pop-culture status in 1985 when it was featured in the now famous scene in "Back to the Future.” Known for being an industry leader, Calvin Klein Underwear created the now ubiquitous boxer brief silhouette and greatly expanded men’s wardrobe choices in underwear, loungewear, and sleepwear. The brand also brought a sexy, modern, minimalist aesthetic to women’s underwear. As the first women’s brand to bring men’s styling to its product, the women’s business has today expanded to include a full range of lingerie styles that offer fashion, fit, and everyday comfort. Since its inception, Calvin Klein Underwear has been recognized worldwide for its innovative product, sexy style, packaging and ground-breaking advertising. To this day, the image of the Calvin Klein Underwear brand remains true to the original concept that designer Calvin Klein initially conceived. As he recalled at the time of the brand's 15th anniversary in 1997, "We turned the idea of underwear on its head, gave a utilitarian product a designer sensibility. We paid attention to details, re-shaped and re-fit the basics, focused on comfort, quality and construction. We made underwear sexy, something fun for everyone to enjoy.” To create the brands iconic advertising campaigns the company works with some of the world’s most renowned fashion photographers including Bruce Weber, Peter Lindbergh, Patrick Demarchelier, Herb Ritts, Steven Meisel, Mario Sorrenti, Kelly Klein, Mario Testino, Inez van Lamsweerde & Vinoodh Matadin, Steven Klein, David Sims, Wayne Maser, Tiziano Magni and Terry Richardson. From the brand’s first campaign featuring U.S. Olympic pole vaulter Tom Hintnaus, shot in Greece by legendary photographer Bruce Weber (1982), to the iconic images of Kate Moss and Mark Wahlberg photographed by Herb Ritts (1992), the brand has become known for featuring some of the most provocative men and women in attention-getting advertising campaigns and packaging. Other memorable campaigns featured models Christy Turlington, Natalia Vodianova, Jessica Miller, Cindy Crawford, Elaine Irwin, Karen Mulder, Carey Lowell, Joel West, Michael Bergin, and Travis Fimmel; actors Hilary Swank and Antonio Sabato, Jr.; and international soccer star Freddie Ljungberg. As previously announced, Academy Award®-nominated actor Djimon Hounsou is now featured in the Fall 2007 Calvin Klein Underwear advertising campaign in support of the launch of the new Calvin Klein Steel line. The campaign, shot by Peter Lindbergh, broke in September 2007 issues of magazines, as well as prominent outdoor sites around the world. "This is a very significant milestone for Calvin Klein Underwear and Calvin Klein, Inc. Calvin Klein Underwear is such an important element of what we stand for as a brand and the impressive longevity speaks to the strength of the brand as well as the talent of the individuals associated with it, both past and present,” said Tom Murry, President & Chief Operating Officer, Calvin Klein, Inc. "In our 25th year we are stronger and more optimistic than ever as we continue to provide our retail partners and consumers with relevant and provocative vehicles that explore new possibilities in product, packaging, and communication for the Calvin Klein Underwear brand and the category worldwide,” said Bob Mazzoli, Chief Creative Officer, Calvin Klein Underwear. Calvin Klein, Inc. is one of the leading fashion design and marketing studios in the world. It designs and markets women’s and men’s designer collection apparel and a range of other products that are manufactured and marketed through an extensive network of licensing agreements and other arrangements worldwide. Brands/lifestyles include Calvin Klein Collection, ck Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein, Calvin Klein Jeans, and Calvin Klein Underwear. Product lines under the various Calvin Klein brands include apparel, accessories, shoes, sleepwear, hosiery, socks, swimwear, belts, eyewear, watches, jewelry, coats, suits and fragrances, as well as products for the home. Phillips-Van Heusen Corporation is one of the world's largest apparel companies. It owns and markets the Calvin Klein brand worldwide. It is the world's largest shirt and neckwear company and markets a variety of goods under its own brands, Van Heusen, Calvin Klein, IZOD, ARROW, Bass and G.H. Bass & Co., and its licensed brands, including Geoffrey Beene, Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, unlisted, A Kenneth Cole Production, BCBG Max Azria, BCBG Attitude, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Sean John, Chaps, Donald J. Trump Signature Collection, JOE Joseph Abboud, Tommy Hilfiger, and Perry Ellis Portfolio. The Warnaco Group, Inc., headquartered in New York, is a leading apparel company engaged in the business of designing, marketing and selling intimate apparel, menswear, jeanswear, swimwear, men's and women's sportswear and accessories under such owned and licensed brands as Warner's®, Olga®, Lejaby®, Body Nancy Ganz®, Speedo®, Anne Cole®, Cole of California® and Catalina® as well as Chaps® sportswear and denim, Nautica® swimwear, Michael Kors® swimwear, Ocean Pacific® swimwear, and Calvin Klein® men's, women's and children's underwear, men’s and women’s bridge apparel and accessories, men's and women's jeans and jeans accessories, junior women's and children's jeans, and men’s and women's swimwear. IMAGES AVAILABLE: www.patrickmcmullan.com / © 2007 Patrick McMullan