Calvin Klein Celebrates Defining Moments of the LGBTQIA+ Journey with #proudinmycalvins Campaign

Calvin Klein’s latest campaign is a celebration of defining moments in the queer journey. A continuation of the #proudinmycalvins movement, the campaign revisits the transformative events that shaped the lives of talent from different parts of the world at different moments in time.

Six photographers captured eight cast members in pared-back, intimate settings. The short films document the cast’s relatable stories and experiences with a range of emotions.

While each of the cast stands out for their highly individual background and rare talent, they are all united in their shared passion for – and impact on – the LGBTQIA+ community.

Arca (she/her) shot by Gorka Postigo in Barcelona

The nonbinary Barcelona-based artist who debuted the Arca moniker in Summer 2011 artfully blends genres across music, performance and painting.

“The first time that I gave myself permission to cruise. In that moment of connection, I felt a vitality. I felt free of a doubt…excited for what was to come.”– 2009

Honey Dijon (she/her) shot by Matt Lambert in Berlin

Artist, DJ and fashion designer Honey was born in Chicago and splits her time between New York and Berlin. Her new album Black Girl Magic will be out later this year.

“The first time in my life that someone had seen me before I saw myself…It was another trans woman that said to me, ‘You belong in a skirt.’ I realized at that moment that I could exist.” – 1990-something

Isaac Cole Powell (he/him) shot by Ryan McGinley in New York City

The American actor and singer recently starred as ‘Tony’ in the Broadway revival of West Side Story and is featured in the upcoming season of Modern Love and the Universal film adaptation of Dear Evan Hansen.

“My hand just crept down my thigh, waiting for it to brush up against him. It finally did. It was like electricity. My whole body was flashing colors. I knew there was no going back after that.”– 2010

Kai Isaiah Jamal (they/them) shot by Campbell Addy in London

The spoken word poet and activist draws on their own personal experiences as a trans person of color. Their work centers on exploring, understanding, and dismantling social norms.

“I’ll never forget it. I call it my transition 2.0. Being able to step back into femininity and celebrate that glory…where once those things would have been really triggering. I felt weightless and free.”– 2020

King Princess (pronoun-fluid) shot by Collier Schorr in New York City

The singer, songwriter and producer from Brooklyn, NY quickly rose to fame after her debut single in 2018. It was through her mother, who worked in fashion, where she first found her LGBTQIA+ family.

“I started to realize that I was part of this tapestry of queer people that have made really powerful, moving work. When I realized that, everything made sense.”– 2012

Omar Ayuso (he/him) shot by Gorka Postigo in Madrid

The Madrid-born actor is best known for his role as Omar Shanaa on the hit television series Elite, a Spanish thriller and teen drama.

“When I told my mother…I thought she would be shocked and make some big scene. She said, ‘Ok, I’ll get some tickets for The Sound of Music.’”– 2013

Raisa Flowers (she/her) shot by Ryan McGinley in New York City

A multi-hyphenate talent, the artist, model and muse, Raisa pulls from her West Indian background and queer underground club experiences to reshape how society views beauty and fashion.

“When I was in catholic school…when I first shaved my head. My principal was like, ‘We need to watch her because she’s going to be wild.’ I felt like a badass.”– 2010

Samuel de Saboia (he/him) shot by Vivi Bacco in São Paulo

The queer Afro-Indigenous Brazilian artist blurs the lines between art and fashion. The multimedia artist focuses on the need for advocacy and bridge building with the queer community in his home country.

“Once you go to the docks, it meant you were kind of free. I had never kissed a guy until that moment. Heart pumping, like I could barely see my chest moving.”– 2015

The campaign takes an authentic approach to styling, featuring key pieces from Calvin Klein’s Pride 2021 capsule paired with denim and underwear essentials that showcases each talent’s own style. This year’s Pride collection features classic silhouettes including the Modern Cotton bralette and boxer briefs with the Brand’s logo waistband in a limited-edition palette. Cropped t-shirts and crewneck sweatshirts are also featured in the campaign, as are denim bottoms, truckers, and the iconic white tee.

The global campaign will launch on May 26 with an anthem video that brings together a montage of stories and footage from the campaign. A series of short films that feature each cast member’s individual story will rollout throughout the year on Calvin Klein channels alongside extended #proudinmycalvins content.

Calvin Klein partners with multiple non-profit organizations in support of LGBTQIA+ advocacy, equality, and safety. This year, Calvin Klein is proud to announce a two-year partnership with the Trevor Project, the world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQIA+ young people. Through the partnership, Calvin Klein will use its platform to increase the knowledge of Trevor’s mental health resources and help promote inclusion for the LGBTQIA+ community.

In addition, Calvin Klein supports ILGA World’s work as the global voice for the LGBTQIA+ rights of those who face discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, gender, identity and/or sex characteristics. The brand has also committed funds to the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund and continues, alongside parent company PVH Corp, to support onePULSE Foundation, the nonprofit established by the owner of the Pulse nightclub following the June 12, 2016 shooting in Orlando, Florida. This year, a register round up will be held in Calvin Klein North America retail stores. The brand’s support of onePULSE began at the request of our company associates who wanted to celebrate the memory and legacy of their colleague, Frank Hernandez.

Earlier this year, Calvin Klein Australia announced a three- year partnership with BlaQ Aboriginal Corporation, an organization that supports the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander LGBTQIA+ community.