Calvin Klein was inspired by the fresh and unpretentious style of New York's urban youth. He launched his own clothing company in 1968, with financial backing from his childhood friend Barry Schwartz. Throughout the fashion industry, word spread quickly about Klein and his sleek designs. The Calvin Klein label expanded over time to include swimwear, accessories, eyewear and fragrances. In the early 1990s, he started to manufacture a more affordable line of fragrances, casual apparel and accessories under the brand name CK.