Less than two and a half years after Raf Simons debuted for Calvin Klein with an ode to Americana at New York FW17, the Belgian designer is stepping down from his role as chief creative officer.

In an announcement earlier today he said that he and the brand were, “amicably parting ways” after Calvin Klein “decided on a new brand direction different from Simons’ creative vision”.

Since talking over the helm, Simons has revitalised the brand with a raw political energy that held up a mirror to issues at the core of contemporary American identity. Central to his vision was an infatuation with horror and fear, played out with a Warholian sense of macabre (and including several collaborations with the Andy Warhol Foundation) that most recently included a homage to Jaws. His work at the brand led to the Council of Fashion Designers of America award for womenswear in both 2017 and 2018, and again with the menswear award in 2017.

Following his departure, which comes around eight months before his contract was due to expire, it was announced that Calvin Klein will not be showing in New York this coming February.