Fashion CEO Quits After PETA Standoff at NY Runway Show
Fashion CEO Quits After PETA Standoff at NY Runway Show
Major fashion executive Steven Kolb steps down from CFDA after a viral video captured him physically restraining PETA protesters at a New York Fashion Week event.
Steven Kolb, the longtime chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), has announced his resignation, just days after he was filmed physically restraining PETA protesters at a New York runway show. Kolb, who has led the fashion industry's main trade organization for two decades, stated,
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.
The incident, which occurred on Sunday, quickly "stunned many in the fashion world." Kolb was seen forcibly restraining two employees of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) at a runway show for Cos, a brand owned by H&M. In video footage, Kolb is shown covering PETA activist Andrija Barak's mouth with his hands and restraining her with his arms and a leg as she tried to disrupt the show by calling out slogans against the use of wool.
He was also seen pushing Mason Melito and covering his mouth.
Kolb, a well-known and respected figure in the New York fashion world, had previously apologized for his actions and announced he would take a leave from his job pending an investigation. The CFDA, in a social media statement, described Kolb as a "dedicated leader and tireless champion of American fashion," adding, "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."
PETA's senior director of media relations in New York, Moira Colley, confirmed that the organization had initially planned to file a police report against Kolb.
However, after visiting police and consulting attorneys, they changed course.
Colley also noted Kolb's past efforts in getting fur banned from CFDA runway schedules, expressing hope that he would continue to "do the right thing" in discussions about ending the use of wool and animal skins in clothing.
This resignation marks a significant moment for the CFDA and raises further questions about activism, ethical practices, and appropriate responses within the high-stakes world of fashion.
