Steven Kolb resigns from CFDA after New York Fashion Week confrontation
The Council of Fashion Designers of America chief executive stepped down after being filmed restraining two PETA protesters at a COS show.
Steven Kolb has resigned as chief executive and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America after being filmed physically restraining two PETA protesters during New York Fashion Week.
Kolb had been placed on leave pending a review of the incident, which occurred during a COS show. In a statement, he said he was stepping down after 20 years at the CFDA, including 15 years as its chief executive.
The protesters were demonstrating against H&M’s use of wool. H&M owns COS. Video footage showed Kolb pushing one protester and covering his mouth, while restraining a second protester on the ground. The available account does not provide an independent assessment of the full altercation.
The CFDA, which supports and promotes US designers and brands and organises the official New York Fashion Week schedule, said it respected Kolb’s decision. Its board said he left the organisation “well positioned” for its next chapter.
PETA said the confrontation would not have occurred if H&M had acted on its concerns about wool. The organisation later staged another protest at an H&M show during London Fashion Week.
