Designers Costa, Zucchelli out at Calvin Klein

NEW YORK (AP) - Designers Francisco Costa and Italo Zucchelli are leaving Calvin Klein as part of what the company describes as a global creative strategy to unify all of its brands under one vision.

Costa has been at the New York fashion house for more than a decade and became the women's creative director in 2003. Zucchelli became the men's creative director a year later.

In a company release Tuesday, Calvin Klein, owned by PVH Corp., said the new strategy "comes as part of a global revolution in the direction of the Calvin Klein brand." That began with the reacquisition of its jeans and underwear business in 2013 with its purchase of Warnaco Group. The parent company aims to develop a $10 billion global retail sales business.

There was no immediate word on how the designers will be replaced.

"This creative strategy marks the beginning of another significant chapter in Calvin Klein's brand legacy since Mr. Klein's retirement," Steve Shiffman, CEO of Calvin Klein, said in a statement.

The Calvin Klein empire spans women's dresses and suits, jeans wear, underwear, handbags and home furnishings.

PVH also owns the Tommy Hilfiger brand, Van Heusen, Izod, Arrow and Speedo.