![]() ![]() Soon, Bergdorf Goodman and Saks would place orders, leaving Calvin Klein Ltd to gross a million dollars in its first year of business. O’Brien then invited Mildred Custin, who Klein called "the grand dame of the retail world."Ĭustin made a sizable order and doors continued to open after this, especially after Bonwit Teller took out full page advertisements showing off Klein’s wares in The New York Times. Donald O’Brien, then vice-president of Bonwit Teller, was on his way to a different appointment when he happened to see one of Klein’s coats hanging on his studio door and made an impromptu visit. Morenstein and Klein didn’t speak again for 24 years. This was officially set up on December 28, 1967, although, according to Morenstein, Klein didn’t tell him this until early 1968. But Klein, then 25, had already incorporated a company, Calvin Klein Ltd, using Barry Schwartz as a partner and leaving Morenstein out. Klein gradually began using Schwartz’s finances regularly, although Morenstein claimed that Klein never said where he got the money from.Īfter creating a collection with Klein, Morenstein wanted to incorporate a company with Klein and become official partners. The two tried and failed to raise capital on Seventh Avenue but, when Klein was considering giving up, his childhood friend Barry Schwartz gave them $2,000, enough to get samples made. Morenstein worked out that they needed $25,000 to set up the business properly. He got in contact with an old friend from Dan Millstein, Abe Morenstein, who also wanted to start his own business. However, he soon tired of this role as well. ![]() It was this work that got him his first mention in the press, being included in Tobe Report in April 1967. He was soon recommended for a role at at Halldon Ltd, a manufacturer which specialized in fake-fur outerwear. Of the role, Klein said "I learned a lot, because he threw me into the snake pit." Millstein took Klein to the Paris haute couture shows, using Klein to copy the clothes they saw at the shows.ĭespite the perks of attending Paris Fashion Week, Millstein was known as a volatile and difficult boss and Klein soon made plans to leave. He soon took on a role at coat manufacturer Dan Millstein, working as a sketcher. ![]()
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