Steven Kolb, chief executive officer and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, who was caught on video physically restraining PETA protesters during the Cos fashion show Sunday afternoon, has been put on leave.
On Monday afternoon, the CFDA board issued a statement that read, “The CFDA takes this matter very seriously, and as a result, Mr. Kolb will be on leave pending a full review. The CFDA as an organization is committed to working with dissenting voices to find commonality and is engaged in efforts to move the American fashion industry forward while upholding the values of our membership, including respectful engagement with differing viewpoints.”
During Sunday’s fashion show at WSA at 175 Water Street, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals protesters stormed the runway and Kolb tried to restrain one of them, held her to the floor, locked his legs around her and covered her mouth and nose with his hands as she shouted, “Sheep bloodied and beaten for wool,” according to PETA.
Kolb was also seen shoving and grabbing a second PETA member who was filming the catwalk takeover and covered the protester’s face with his hand. They were joined by a third member protesting Cos’ implication in a recent PETA Asia investigation, said PETA. A PETA spokesman said Sunday that they would be filing a police report and planned to pursue criminal charges against Kolb, as reported.
Reached for comment Sunday, Kolb said in a statement, “I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today. It wasn’t my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation.”
On Monday, Tracy Reiman, president of PETA, sent a letter to Kolb, saying, “I hope you feel, as we do, that what happened yesterday at the Cos show should not be the last word between PETA and the CFDA. Rather than allowing confrontation to create a divide between us, we would like to turn it into an opportunity for something constructive. We are extending an olive branch and ask that you meet with us, please, to discuss wool and animal use generally in fashion.”
This season the CFDA ban on fur took effect across the official New York Fashion Week schedule, the letter said.
“Now we must ask that you bring that same willingness to examine the evidence against using wool,” Reiman wrote. He wrote that PETA entities have released 17 exposés covering more than 150 wool-industry operations in seven countries, documenting workers punching kicking, beating and stomping on sheep. “We have documented cruelty even at operations marketed as ‘responsible,’ and most recently, at an operation with ties to Cos’ parent company, H&M Group,” he wrote.
“Yesterday’s loud but peaceful protest was about putting that evidence in front of an industry that has already shown that it can act when it comes to grips with cruelty, and of course, a changing consumer market. We hope you will accept this invitation in the spirit on which it is offered — as a chance to move past yesterday and do something meaningful. Please let us know when you are available to meet,” said Reiman.
As fashion week rolled on Monday, much of the industry recapped the incident and questioned what might happen next to Kolb, who has been in his role for 20 years under three chairmen. Many speculated he will be forced to eventually step down, with potential successors speculated as ranging from existing CFDA executives to former fashion directors of leading retailers and more.
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