CFDA chief Steven Kolb steps aside after restraining protesters at New York Fashion Week
Steven Kolb, CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, has taken voluntary leave after restraining animal rights activists at a New York Fashion Week show.
The chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Steven Kolb, has taken voluntary leave from his post after he physically restrained animal rights activists during a New York Fashion Week runway show on Sunday.
Kolb intervened at a show staged by COS, a brand owned by H&M, where demonstrators were protesting the label's use of sheep's wool. Video footage that circulated widely online showed him grabbing at least two activists, holding one on the ground and covering her mouth with his hand.
In a statement posted to his Instagram account on Monday, Kolb apologised for the episode and said he would step back from his duties while he arranges to meet representatives of People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, the group behind the protest.
"There is no justification for physically restraining another person. Security should have handled the situation, and I should have stepped back," he said.
The CFDA, which organises New York Fashion Week, did not immediately respond to questions about the incident or about Kolb's standing at the trade body.
PETA has called on H&M and COS to remove wool from their collections, saying in a statement on Sunday that Kolb's conduct demonstrated how senior figures in the industry use force to silence animal rights campaigners.
H&M said it sources animal-derived fibres only from certified farms and, where possible, from recycled materials. A spokesperson for the retailer expressed regret over the confrontation at its Autumn/Winter 2026 show on 13 September, adding that the company respects the right of individuals to express their views and believes everyone should be treated with care and respect.