The head of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Steven Kolb, has taken a voluntary leave of absence following a confrontation with animal-rights protesters during New York Fashion Week.
The incident happened on September 13 at a COS runway show in Manhattan. Several PETA activists interrupted the show to protest the use of wool in fashion, carrying signs and calling for wool to be removed from the runway.
Video from the event showed Kolb physically intervening with at least two protesters. He was seen grabbing one protester and covering their mouth before security removed them from the venue. Another protester was also physically restrained.
Kolb later acknowledged that his response was inappropriate and said the situation should have been handled by security. He issued an apology and announced that he would take voluntary leave while the organization reviews the incident.
The protest was part of PETA’s campaign against the use of wool, with the organization raising concerns about animal welfare in wool production.
The controversy has drawn renewed attention to the use of animal-derived materials in fashion, the rights of protesters and how major fashion events handle demonstrations.
