  calvin richard klein (; born november 19, 1942) is an american fashion designer who launched the company that would later become calvin klein inc., in 1968. in addition to clothing, klein also has given his name to a range of perfumes, watches, and jewelry. ==early years== klein was born in the bronx, new york. his parents were hungarian jewish immigrants. he attended the high school of art and design and matriculated at, but never graduated from, new york's fashion institute of technology, receiving an honorary doctorate in 2003. he did his apprenticeship in 1962 at an oldline cloak-and-suit manufacturer, dan millstein, and spent five years designing at other new york shops. in 1968, he launched his first company with a childhood friend, barry k. schwartz. klein was one of several design leaders raised in the jewish immigrant community in the bronx, along with robert denning and ralph lauren. klein became a protÃ©gÃ© of baron de gunzburg, through whose introductions he became the toast of the new york elite fashion scene even before he had his first mainstream success with the launch of his first jeans line. klein was immediately recognized for his talent after his first major showing at new york fashion week. klein was hailed as the new yves saint laurent, and was noted for his clean lines. ==personal life== klein married jayne centre, a textile designer, in 1964. they have a daughter, marci,{{cite web|url=http://www.vogue.co.uk/biographies/080422-calvin-
1942_births American_fashion_businesspeople American_fashion_designers American_people_of_Hungarian-Jewish_descent Art_Students_League_of_New_York_alumni Businesspeople_from_New_York Fashion_Institute_of_Technology_alumni Jewish_fashion_designers Living_people New_York_Democrats People_from_the_Bronx