Does one good intention cover a multitude of sins? In Steven Kolb’s case, president and chief executive officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, apparently not!!
On Sunday afternoon, People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) staged a protest at the COS spring 2027 runway show. COS, which used sheepskin and sheep’s wool in their spring 2027 collection, was called out by protestors for the use of these sheep byproducts. Yelling against the use of sheep byproducts and with signs stating “Sheep Beaten and Bloodied for Wool. Don’t Buy It,” the protest escalated as Steven Kolb attempted to quell the protest, ending with a scuffle.
As Kolb attempted to cover the mouths of a couple of protesters, pulling one protestor to the floor, and attempting to yank the protest sign out of her hand, Kolb had to be escorted out of the event, as security escorted other PETA protestors out. Kolb commented as reported in yahoonews.com, “I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today. It wasn’t my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation.”
In response to the assault, PETA wrote, “Today’s actions show how top people in fashion use violence to silence people who expose how sheep are beaten, bloodied, and violently killed for scarves and sweaters,” PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk said in the release, as reported in fashionista.com … “Kolb violently grabbed one protester, held her to the floor, wrapped a leg around her, and covered her mouth and nose with his hands as she shouted, ‘Sheep bloodied and beaten for wool!’ Kolb also shoved and grabbed a second PETA member who was filming the catwalk takeover and covered his face with his hand.”
In recent months PETA has reached out to H&M Group, the parent company of COS, asking them to ban wool from their garments due to an investigation that showed workers kicking, beating, and dragging terrified sheep and leaving them bleeding at a South African wool farm. H&M Group buys wool from this South African supply chain.
This recent incident has caused many New York City fashion industry professionals and fashion publications to call for the resignation of Steven Kolb. Kolb has been at the center and forefront of many fashion controversies that many fashion insiders believe have diminished the relevancy and vibrancy of New York Fashion Week (NYFW).
William S. Gooch
Image credits
- peta-steven-kolb-yahoonews.png — Credit/source: yahoonews.com.
- peta-cnn.jpg — Credit/source: cnn.com.
- steven-kolb-peta-thestandard-co.jpg — Editorial image.
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