Calvin Klein kicks off Pride Month in electrifying style with its newest campaign, fronted by Golden Globe-nominated actor Cooper Koch. Known for his breakout role as Erik Menéndez and for his unfiltered voice on identity, Koch is the perfect face for the brand’s Pride 2025 collection—a line that fuses vintage silhouettes, contemporary attitude, and a very visible queerness.
A star on the rise, a face for the moment
Fresh from critical acclaim in Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menéndez Story, Cooper Koch has fast become one of the most talked-about young actors in Hollywood. But beyond the accolades, it’s his comfort in his own skin—and his commitment to visibility—that makes him the ideal face of Calvin Klein’s Pride capsule.
His presence in the campaign feels both intentional and powerful. Koch doesn’t just wear the clothes—he embodies them. In CK-logo briefs, faded denim, and white tanks soaked with sun and sweat, he exudes both softness and strength. The low-rise cuts and clingy fabrics recall ‘80s gym-core classics, but here they’re reframed not as hypermasculine clichés, but as emblems of confidence and queer pride. It’s a campaign that doesn’t ask for permission—it asserts its place.
Retro silhouettes, reimagined for pride
The Calvin Klein Pride 2025 collection is rooted in familiar Americana—denim, cotton, tank tops—but reinterpreted through a queer lens. Think: throwback gym wear with unapologetic flair. The pieces are bold in tone and tactile in feel, with a breeziness that feels made for a rooftop dance party or a West Coast pride parade.
From boxy tees to sporty briefs and easy-wear tanks, every item is designed with both comfort and statement in mind. Many of the garments feature graphic prints and subtle slogans created by artist Marc Hundley, whose text-based works blend personal reflection and pop culture. His presence adds another layer of meaning—embedding each piece with a quiet poetry that celebrates identity, memory, and expression.
Koch moves through the campaign like a modern icon, framed by crisp white architecture and boundless blue skies. The setting evokes a sense of liberation: it’s about open space, open identity, and open celebration.
Pride in every thread—and action
More than just a stylish collection, the campaign underlines Calvin Klein’s ongoing commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community. As with previous Pride initiatives, the brand pairs its capsule drop with meaningful financial support, donating to organizations that advocate for queer visibility, equality, and inclusion.
This year’s beneficiaries include groups working at the intersection of gender justice, youth empowerment, and mental health—areas often underserved, yet vital to the well-being of LGBTQIA+ communities worldwide.
In an industry where rainbow-washing remains a concern, Calvin Klein’s approach to Pride feels more grounded. The collection doesn’t just wear the rainbow—it invests in it.
More than a capsule—it’s a statement
What sets this campaign apart isn’t just its aesthetics (though they are, undeniably, fire). It’s the intention behind the imagery, the casting, and the styling. There’s a radical softness to the way Koch is portrayed—not just as a sex symbol, but as a fully realized individual: strong, vulnerable, joyful, proud.
By embracing a queer male lead in a collection this sensual and high-profile, Calvin Klein continues to push the needle forward. It’s not about conforming to a sanitized ideal of queerness—it’s about celebrating its full spectrum. In an era where authenticity matters more than ever, this campaign feels honest. It’s about feeling good in your skin. It’s about showing up as yourself. And yes, it’s about looking incredible while doing it.
Cooper’s moment, Pride’s power
As Koch continues his ascent in both Hollywood and fashion, this campaign marks a new chapter—not just for him, but for how mainstream brands approach queer storytelling. His presence is not a cameo. It’s the heartbeat of the campaign.
Pride Month is often filled with spectacle. But Calvin Klein’s Summer 2025 collection strips that back to something more intimate: the relationship between confidence and clothing, the quiet act of dressing for yourself, the joy of feeling seen.
With a limited-edition capsule that feels tailor-made for both celebration and everyday wear, and a campaign led by one of the most compelling voices in a new generation of queer creatives, Calvin Klein reminds us what Pride can look like—and feel like—when it’s done right.
