Fashion Runway Protest
CFDA Chief Steven Kolb Admits to Inappropriate Reaction During PETA Runway Protest
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Key Points
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The protest took place at the WSA building at 175 Water Street in Manhattan, and the Cos show continued as activists intermittently walked among the models before security escorted them out.
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According to PETA and video accounts, Kolb pulled one protester to the floor and covered her mouth and nose while she shouted, and also covered the face of a second protester who was filming the runway protest.
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PETA said the activists’ protest included a third participant, and that one protester was dressed in a suit to resemble a model before beginning to shout about sheep and wool.
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Kolb was not seen at any later shows that day, as videos of the confrontation circulated widely and drew criticism online.
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The Cos presentation was attended by Sharon Stone, John Boyega, Michelle Williams and Lupita Nyong’o.
Steven Kolb, president and CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, physically confronted PETA protesters who disrupted a Cos fashion show during New York Fashion Week, restraining activists and covering their faces as they shouted about animal cruelty in the wool supply chain. Fashion Network reported that Kolb subsequently went on leave pending a full review of the incident, while PETA said it planned to file a police report and pursue criminal charges.
The protest erupted at the WSA building at 175 Water Street in Manhattan when PETA activists walked onto the runway to expose conditions at a South African wool farm linked to H&M Group's supply chain. Videos showed Kolb pulling one protester to the floor and covering her mouth and nose, then doing the same to a second activist recording the demonstration before security removed them.
Kolb Takes Leave as Video Spreads Online
After videos of the altercation circulated widely and drew heavy criticism on social media, Kolb was not seen at any later shows that day. Fashion Network reported that the CFDA placed Kolb on leave while conducting a full review of his conduct. Page Six reported that insiders rallied around Kolb following the front row fracas, though the incident damaged his public standing during Fashion Week.
How the Protest Unfolded at the Runway
PETA activists, including one dressed as a model, walked among the runway during the Cos Spring 2027 presentation and interrupted the show with chants about animal welfare. The protest specifically targeted wool used in the collection, citing a PETA Asia investigation into a South African farm in H&M Group's supply chain that documented sheep being beaten and bloodied. The Cos show continued despite the disruption, with security eventually removing the demonstrators.
The event attracted high-profile attendees including Sharon Stone, John Boyega, Michelle Williams, and Lupita Nyong'o, who witnessed the confrontation unfold. Security worked to manage the situation as protesters intermittently moved between models before being escorted out.
Kolb Admits He Handled Situation Improperly
Kolb acknowledged his response was wrong, stating he should have left the matter entirely to security staff rather than physically intervening. His admission came after videos showed him restraining activists and taking their protest sign, actions that drew immediate backlash from animal rights supporters and observers of the fashion industry.
PETA demanded that Cos and parent company H&M ban wool from their collections, framing the protest as exposing cruel practices in their supply chain. The group said it planned to file a police report and pursue criminal charges against Kolb related to the physical confrontation.
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