Kenneth Cole (designer)

Kenneth D. Cole
Kenneth D. Cole
Born	March 23, 1954 (age 72); Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Occupation(s)	Entrepreneur, designer, social advocate, philanthropist
Known for	Founder of Kenneth Cole Productions

Kenneth D. Cole (born March 23, 1954) is an American entrepreneur, designer, social advocate, and philanthropist. His international enterprise, Kenneth Cole Productions, designs and markets apparel and footwear under brands including Kenneth Cole New York, Reaction Kenneth Cole, Unlisted, and Gentle Souls.

Early life and education

Raised in a Jewish household in Brooklyn, New York, Cole's father, Charles Cole, was the proprietor of the El Greco shoe manufacturing firm. In 1970, Kenneth worked as a peanut vendor at Shea Stadium located in Queens. He completed his secondary education at John L. Miller Great Neck North High School in 1972 and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree from Emory University in 1976. Between 1976 and 1982, he managed design and sales operations at El Greco before founding his own label.

Career

Established by Kenneth Cole in 1982, Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. is an American fashion company noted for its creative market entry approach. Unable to afford a traditional showroom at the New York Shoe Expo, Cole rebranded his company as Kenneth Cole Productions and acquired a permit to film The Birth of a Shoe Company, during which he sold 40,000 shoes within two and a half days.

The business went public in 1994 and was repeatedly featured on Forbes list of 200 Best Small Companies through 2008. Kenneth Cole Productions offers clothing and accessories through its labels Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Unlisted, and Gentle Souls. Its merchandise is available via department stores, specialty outlets, branded retail locations, and e-commerce platforms.

Support of progressive social causes

Beginning in 1985, Kenneth Cole has been an advocate for AIDS education and research, pioneering fashion campaigns with social awareness themes. The company has contributed funds to organizations such as Mentoring USA, amfAR, and Rock the Vote. Cole held the position of amfAR chairman from 2005 until his departure in February 2018 following controversy linked to a Harvey Weinstein agreement.

In 2001, the Kenneth Cole Foundation collaborated with Emory University to create The Kenneth Cole Fellows in Community Building and Social Change Program. The brand's socially driven campaigns have sometimes stirred public discussion, notably the 2005 World AIDS Day T-shirts featuring slogans like "We All Have AIDS," intended to diminish stigma.

In August 2006, Kenneth Cole Productions announced it would cease using fur starting with the Fall 2007 collection. The company introduced the "Awearness" Campaign in 2007, producing T-shirts whose sales supported charities through the Awearness Fund. This effort was supported by the publication of the book Awearness: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference, which included contributions from celebrities.

Cole was the keynote speaker at Northeastern University in May 2009. In July 2023, he co-hosted "We the Future" alongside Deepak Chopra—an event aimed at steering AI development toward beneficial global outcomes and peace. The forum brought together experts from fields such as entertainment, real estate, accessibility, space exploration, music, and wellness to discuss AI’s transformative capabilities.

Awards

In 1998, People Magazine honored Cole as the "Sexiest Businessman of the Year."

On May 14, 2009, the Legal Aid Society of New York City presented Kenneth Cole with its first-ever Theodore Roosevelt Corporate Award at the Waldorf Astoria, supporting efforts to aid impoverished New Yorkers. Later, in November 2011, Cole was celebrated by the Ride of Fame through the dedication of a double-decker tour bus bearing his name in New York City.

Footwear News recognized Cole as an Icon for Social Impact in both 2011 and 2019. In 2016, he was honored with the UNAIDS International Goodwill Ambassador award. The subsequent year, Cole received the CFDA Swarovski Award for Positive Change.

In 2020, the American Apparel and Footwear Association named him Person of the Year, and he was also granted the Visionary Change Maker Award by the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention Child Mind. Two years later, in 2022, he earned their Suicide Prevention Champion Award.

Controversies

On February 3, 2011, Cole sparked public criticism after posting a tweet that referenced the 2011 Egyptian protests to market his spring collection. Following widespread backlash, he removed the tweet and issued a personal apology on Facebook.

In April 2012, a billboard campaign by Cole focusing on education stirred controversy by framing the issue as "Teachers’ Rights vs. Students' Rights." The billboard’s slogan, "Shouldn’t Everyone Be Well Red?" was seen by critics as an oversimplification and misrepresentation of teachers' unions. After receiving negative feedback, Cole’s company admitted to the mischaracterization and took down the billboard.

Personal life

Kenneth Cole met Maria Cuomo in 1986 and married her one year later. Maria is the daughter of former New York Governor Mario Cuomo, and sister to ex-Governor Andrew Cuomo and former CNN journalist Chris Cuomo. Their daughter Amanda has appeared as host of the Mets Kids Clubhouse on SportsNet New York.

In 2008, Cole and Maria acquired a $14.5 million cooperative apartment on Sutton Place in Manhattan, a residence previously owned by fashion designer Bill Blass. By 2018, they were living on an estate spanning 11.35 acres located in Purchase, Westchester County, New York. The couple is parents to three daughters.

Books

Cole, Kenneth, Footnotes: What You Stand for is More Important Than what You Stand in, New York: Simon and Schuster (2003)
Cole, Kenneth, Awearness: Inspiring Stories about How to Make a Difference, New York: DK Melcher Media (2008)
Cole, Kenneth, This Is A Kenneth Cole Production, New York: Rizzoli (2013)

Bibliography