US Fashion Council Boss Resigns After Runway Protest Incident
Sandego.net – US fashion council boss resigns after Steven Kolb announced he will step down as president and chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America following a confrontation with animal rights protesters at a New York runway show.
Kolb’s announcement came days after video from a Cos runway presentation showed him physically restraining two People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, or PETA, employees. Cos is owned by H&M. The incident occurred when a protester stood up during the show and interrupted the presentation.
Footage circulated widely in fashion circles and appeared to show Kolb holding a protester back and placing his hands over the protesters’ mouths. The images prompted scrutiny of the response to the demonstration as well as renewed discussion about animal-derived materials in fashion.
“I am enormously proud of what we have built together and believe this is the right moment for both me and the organization to begin a new chapter,” Kolb said in his resignation statement.
CFDA Faces Leadership Transition
Kolb has led the CFDA for two decades. The organization is the principal trade association representing the American fashion industry and plays an important role in supporting designers and raising the profile of New York fashion.
Before the US fashion council boss resigns, Kolb apologized for the confrontation and said he would take a leave of absence while an investigation took place. His departure creates a new leadership transition for an organization closely tied to American designers and fashion events.
The CFDA said it respected Kolb’s decision and thanked him for his years of service to the organization and the industry.
“We respect Steven’s decision to step down and are grateful for his many years of leadership and service to the CFDA and our industry,” the organization said.
PETA Raises Concerns About Fashion Materials
PETA said its representatives were seeking to raise concerns about the use of wool and animal skins in clothing. Moira Colley, the group’s senior director of media relations in New York, said PETA intended to meet with Kolb to discuss ending the use of those materials in fashion.
The organization initially considered filing a police report after the incident. After visiting police and consulting lawyers, PETA decided not to take that step. Following the announcement that the US fashion council boss resigns, the group said it still expected to meet with Kolb.
“Hopefully others in the industry will meet and take meaningful steps to stop this epidemic of cruelty to animals,” PETA said.
PETA also noted Kolb’s earlier involvement in efforts that led to fur being prohibited from runway shows on the CFDA schedule. The group has criticized his conduct at the Cos event while recognizing his role in that earlier policy change.
What the Resignation Means for Fashion
The resignation brings attention to continuing debate over wool, skins and fur. Designers, consumers, industry organizations and animal rights advocates hold differing views on how fashion materials should be sourced, used and presented.
Runway shows are major public moments for brands, but they are also workplaces involving models, staff, guests and security. In this case, the response to the protest became as significant as the campaign’s message about animal welfare.
FAQ
Why did Steven Kolb resign? Kolb said he would step down after a confrontation with PETA protesters at a Cos runway show in New York drew widespread attention.
What is the CFDA? The Council of Fashion Designers of America is a trade association representing the American fashion industry and supporting fashion designers.
What were the protesters advocating for? PETA said it wanted to discuss ending the use of wool and animal skins in fashion.
Will PETA still meet with Kolb? PETA said it expected to meet with him after his resignation announcement.
