The fashion world was shaken on September 13, 2026, when a heated confrontation between Steven Kolb, the president and CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) and PETA activists disrupted the COS runway show during New York fashion week. The incident, captured on video, has sparked widespread discussion and led to Kolb’s temporary leave from his position.
The altercation began when PETA protesters, advocating against the use of wool by COS’s parent company, H&M Group, interrupted the show. Kolb was seen physically restraining two activists, an action that quickly went viral and drew significant backlash. The CFDA announced Kolb’s leave pending a full review, emphasizing the organization’s commitment to respectful engagement with differing viewpoints.
The Incident and Its Aftermath
Video footage released by PETA shows Kolb pulling a sign from a protester and later grabbing her and pulling her to the floor. At one point, he is seen putting his hand over the protester’s mouth. The footage also shows Kolb covering the face of another protester. Kolb apologized in a statement shared on his Instagram page, acknowledging that he had acted inappropriately and should have let the security team handle the situation.
The CFDA, which represents over 300 of America’s leading designers, stated that they take the matter very seriously. Kolb has been at the helm of the CFDA for the past 20 years, overseeing significant changes in the fashion industry, including the recent ban on animal fur products. The new policy, announced last December, prohibits fur from animals killed specifically for their pelts, reflecting the CFDA’s efforts to encourage designers to think more deeply about the industry’s impact on animals.
PETA’s Campaign Against Wool
The protesters were advocating against the use of wool by COS’s parent company, H&M Group. PETA has been campaigning against H&M, urging the company to ban wool from its collections. The animal rights organization claimed that a recent investigation found workers harming sheep at a farm certified by Nativa, a group that designates responsible sources for wool and is used in H&M’s supply chain.
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk stated that the actions of top fashion executives to silence activists mirror the violence inherent in the wool industry. She called on H&M and COS to ban wool from their collections and urged consumers to shop elsewhere until they do. A spokesperson for the H&M Group responded that the company is committed to improving animal welfare and takes allegations of breaches of third-party certifications very seriously.
The Industry’s Response
The H&M Group spokesperson emphasized that the company only sources animal fibers from certified farms and, where possible, from recycled sources. They noted that all virgin wool and mohair used in their products come from farms certified by the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) and the Responsible Mohair Standard (RMS). Following PETA’s allegations, licenses for one mohair and one wool farm have been suspended, and these farms are no longer permitted to sell certified materials.
This year’s September New York Fashion Week, overseen by the CFDA, marked the first event where animal fur products were not promoted. The new policy reflects the CFDA’s commitment to encouraging American designers to consider the fashion industry’s impact on animals. As the industry continues to evolve, the incident involving Steven Kolb and the PETA activists serves as a reminder of the ongoing tensions between fashion and animal rights.
