Steven Kolb, the longtime chief executive and president of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), has announced his resignation following a public altercation with animal rights activists during a New York runway show.
Kolb’s departure comes after two decades leading American fashion’s primary trade organization. According to CNN, the incident occurred during a presentation for the H&M-owned brand Cos, where video footage captured Kolb physically restraining two protesters from People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and placing his hands over their mouths after they interrupted the runway.
Following the altercation, Kolb publicly apologized for his actions and initially took a temporary leave of absence pending an internal review. However, he issued a final statement confirming his resignation, stating he is proud of what the organization accomplished during his tenure and that it is the right moment for both himself and the CFDA to begin a new chapter.
The CFDA released a statement on social media describing Kolb as a dedicated leader and tireless champion of American fashion, expressing gratitude for his twenty years of service. Meanwhile, PETA media relations representative Moira Colley noted that while the group initially considered filing a police report, it decided against legal action after consulting attorneys. PETA confirmed plans to meet with Kolb and other industry figures to continue discussions on phasing out animal skins and wool from commercial clothing collections, while acknowledging Kolb’s past role in banning fur from official CFDA fashion week schedules.
Kolb’s exit creates an immediate leadership void at the trade association as it navigates evolving industry expectations around ethics, public accountability, and activist engagement.