US fashion council CEO Kolb resigns after clash with runway show protesters

Steven Kolb, the CEO and President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), announced his resignation on September 18, 2023, after a controversial incident at a New York Fashion Week runway show. Kolb had been leading the CFDA for two decades before making the difficult decision to step down from his position.

The CFDA, which organizes New York Fashion Week and serves as a key trade group for the US fashion industry, placed Kolb on leave pending a board review following the incident. The organization had initially announced that Kolb was taking a voluntary leave.

On Sunday, Kolb was captured on video forcefully restraining at least two animal rights activists who were protesting at the CFDA's event. One activist was pinned to the ground while her mouth was covered with Kolb's hand, according to videos that quickly went viral online. Kolb later apologized for his actions, stating that he planned to meet with PETA, the organization that organized the protest, to discuss the matter.

Kolb acknowledged that there is no justification for physically restraining another person and stated that security should have handled the situation instead. He admitted that he should have stepped back from the confrontation. The backlash against Kolb's actions was swift and widespread, with PETA condemning him for using violence to silence advocates for animal rights.

In a statement on Instagram, the CFDA board, led by Thom Browne and including designers such as Vera Wang, Ralph Lauren, and Michael Kors, expressed respect for Kolb's decision to resign and thanked him for his years of service to the organization.