The Male Models of Italo Zucchelli
In the world of male modeling, there’s Calvin Klein and then there’s everybody else. It’s the exclusive that can instantly make a career. From the days when Klein himself was designing the label and tapping the likes of Tom Hintnaus to star in his Bruce Weber-lensed campaigns, Calvin Klein has set the standard for the industry. “Calvin is the job everyone wants,” Ivan Bart, the head of IMG Models, once told the New York Times. For the last 12 years, the stewardship of that legacy has been in the hands of Italo Zucchelli,who was let go by the company in a surprising announcement on Tuesday. Zucchelli had a very clear idea of who the Calvin man was: All-American, wholesome, athletic, clean-cut. Or, as he once told M magazine, “When I see them walk, they need to be – boom! – confident.” The designer was responsible for casting a murderer’s row of some of the top names in male modeling today, including but not limited to: Clark Bockelman, River Viiperi, David Agbodji, the Stenmark brothers and, most recently, Mitchell Slaggert. Here, a look back at all the male models who got their start on the Calvin Klein runway thanks to Zucchelli.
1
David Agbodji for Calvin Klein, photo by Steven Klein.
2
Mitchell Slaggert debuted at the Spring 2016 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
3
David Agbodji debuted at the Spring 2010 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
4
Clark Bockelman debuted at the Spring 2014 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
5
River Viiperi debuted at the Fall 2010 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
6
Sebastian Sauvé debuted at the Spring 2011 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
7
Tim Ruger debuted at the Fall 2010 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
8
Joel Meacock debuted at the Fall 2012 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
9
AJ Abualrub debuted at the Fall 2009 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
10
Zac Stenmark debuted at the Fall 2012 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
11
Jordan Stenmark debuted at the Fall 2012 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
12
Bjorn Merinder debuted at the Fall 2012 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
13
Philipp Schmidt debuted at the Fall 2010 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
14
Jakub Zelman debuted at the Spring 2011 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
15
Erik Sage debuted at the Fall 2010 runway show. Photo by Getty Images.
16
Calvin Klein designer Italo Zucchelli and Cameron Dallas. Photo courtesy the brand.
