Francisco Costa Fashion designer, creative director of 'Calvin Klein Collection'. Date of Birth: 10.05.1961 Country: France

Biography of Francisco Costa

Francisco Costa is a renowned fashion designer and the creative director of 'Calvin Klein Collection'. Born in Guarani, Brazil, Costa was the fourth of five children of Maria-Francisca Costa, who owned a local children's clothing factory. His mother started as a door-to-door salesperson and eventually became a successful businesswoman. His father, Jacy Neves da Costa, was not involved in the fashion industry and managed a small ranch.

Costa developed an interest in creating new clothing and organizing cultural events at a young age. In his hometown, he organized fashion shows and raised funds for charity. His mother played a significant role in shaping him as a businessperson, as she was highly energetic and popular in their community. Costa remembers family dinners with up to 15 people.

In 1981, Costa's mother passed away, and he moved to New York City with a friend. At the age of 20, he had limited English skills and enrolled in language courses at a local college. Concurrently, he studied fashion at the Fashion Institute of Technology. Costa started working for Herbert Rounick, whose Manhattan-based company, 'Seventh Avenue,' designed clothing for Oscar de la Renta and Bill Blass. After Rounick's death, Costa joined de la Renta's team and worked on Japanese projects for the company. He credits de la Renta for teaching him everything he knows about fashion and life.

In 2001, Costa caught the attention of Calvin Klein himself, thanks to a recommendation from his partner, Barry Schwartz. In September 2003, at the age of 42, Costa became the lead designer for the fashion house shortly after it was sold to the Phillips-Van Heusen group for $730 million. Prior to joining Calvin Klein, Costa worked for 'Gucci' as an assistant to Tom Ford. Their first project together was the Cher Collection.

At Calvin Klein, Costa immediately started working on new fashion collections without wasting much time on warming up. His decisions were considered unconventional for the company, as his designs were more feminine and lightweight compared to Klein's classic suits. In his spring 2004 collection, Costa focused on trouser suits, aiming to emphasize the freedom his garments would provide to the wearers. His evening dresses were more revealing, showcasing not only the elegance of the wearer's skin but also their lingerie. However, Costa's fascination with sensual attire stems from the idea of empowering women to express their sensuality genuinely.

Costa continues to work at Calvin Klein, presenting new and innovative projects to the public every year. His work has been recognized with various prestigious fashion awards, such as the Council of Fashion Designers of America's Best Women's Wear Line in March 2006 and June 2008, as well as the National Design Award in 2009.