With heart and ’sole’ and unflinching determination, global fashion icon and activist Kenneth Cole has put ‘cause' before ‘commerce’ for 40 years, igniting social awareness and change, giving voice to the voiceless, defying and shattering stigmas and inspiring and empower action for good.
In 1982, Kenneth Cole burst onto the American fashion scene. Unable to afford a traditional showroom during the New York Shoe Expo, the enterprising founder registered his footwear business as a film production, enabling him to sell thousands of pairs of shoes out of a trailer in midtown Manhattan. Clean design, high craftsmanship, and creative advertising took Kenneth Cole Productions to the top. His fierce, high-risk commitment to social causes has been the hallmark of his brand from the beginning.
In the 40 years since, Kenneth Cole has cared for “what people stand for…not just what they stand in.” Kenneth’s commitments to AIDS research, homelessness, LGBTQIA+ rights, social justice, and now mental health issues have given voice to the voiceless, defied and shattered stigmas, and inspired and empowered action for good.
Interviews with fashion leaders, global scientists, collaborators, partners and employees are fused with a treasure-trove of current and archival social initiative footage to tell Kenneth’s purposeful story of maverick invention, monumental impact and creative survival.
Forty years in, Kenneth Cole is just getting started.