CFDA CEO Steven Kolb Resigns Following PETA Altercation
In a now-viral video, the former longtime trade body president is seen wrestling with protestors and covering their mouths.
Steven Kolb, the CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), has resigned from his position after a two-decade tenure with the trade association. Kolb was placed on leave on Monday following a confrontation with PETA protestors who disrupted the Cos runway show during New York Fashion Week to protest the use of wool.
In a video that went viral, Kolb can be seen pushing and restraining the protestors, covering their mouths with his hands. PETA activist Mason Melito indicated to The New York Times that he plans to file a police report against Kolb and pursue criminal charges. In a statement, Kolb expressed deep emotion at leaving after twenty years, praising the accomplishments made together and expressing confidence in the CFDA's future.
Kolb joined the trade body in 2006 and became the chief executive in 2011, overseeing initiatives such as the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the annual CFDA Awards. The CFDA expressed respect for Kolb's decision to step down, acknowledging his many years of leadership and service to the CFDA and the fashion industry. In December of the previous year, the CFDA banned fur from New York Fashion Week, partnering with Humane World for Animals and Collective Fashion Justice, a decision announced with Kolb's statement.
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