The President and Chief Executive Officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Steven Kolb, has apologised for his conduct during a confrontation with animal rights protesters who disrupted a New York Fashion Week show.
Kolb was filmed physically confronting two activists who interrupted Swedish fashion brand COS’s Fall-Winter 2026 runway presentation on Sunday.
Videos from the incident showed him grabbing the protesters, attempting to take their signs and placing his hands over their mouths as they shouted slogans including “get wool off the runway now.”
In another video, Kolb appeared to use his leg to restrain one of the protesters and pin the activist to the floor while models continued with the runway presentation.
He was also seen pushing another protester, identified as 22-year-old Mason Melito, towards a corner and attempting to cover his mouth.
Kolb later apologised for his actions in a statement posted on Instagram Stories.
“I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today. It wasn’t my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation.”
The People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals said its activists were “assaulted” during the confrontation.
PETA said the protesters had targeted COS as part of a campaign urging its parent company, H&M Group, to stop using wool in its products.
Melito, who described himself as a senior campaigner with PETA, said he did not know who Kolb was until after he was removed from the event.
“The violence the CEO of the CFDA showed toward us, in his attempt to silence us, just completely mirrors the violence inherent in the wool industry,” he said.
PETA said the protesters were “filing a police report and plan to pursue criminal charges,” although Melito said they were “just considering our options right now.” He added: “What we really want to do is talk to Mr. Kolb.”
The CFDA, which represents more than 300 designers and labels, organises New York Fashion Week, which ends Tuesday, as well as its annual fashion awards. Kolb has served as the organisation’s CEO since 2011.
The CFDA announced last December that animal fur would be banned from New York Fashion Week, but the restriction does not cover wool or other materials derived from shorn animal hair.
PETA has accused H&M Group of being linked to a South African wool facility where the organisation alleged that sheep were treated cruelly.
However, its investigation did not establish evidence directly connecting the farm to H&M Group’s products.
H&M Group has said it aims to ensure that all wool used by the company comes from certified responsible farms, recycled sources or is replaced with non-animal fibres by 2026.
Despite the protest, the COS show continued as scheduled, with celebrities including Lupita Nyong’o, Sharon Stone, John Boyega and Michelle Williams among those who attended the event in downtown Manhattan.
