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Kenneth Cole Gives the Boot to Cruelty, Pledges to Go Fur-Free

August 18, 2006


	Warren Garst

Leading fashion designer Kenneth Cole is known for embracing worthy causes. Famous for his shoes, he has said, "What you stand for is more important than what you stand in." After executives of Kenneth Cole Productions met with staff of The HSUS this summer to discuss the suffering of animals caged, trapped, and killed for their fur pelts, the company pledged to go fur-free in all its stores, a huge step for fur-bearing animals.

The company will stop selling animal fur in all of its garments, handbags and other products starting with the Fall 2007 fashion season. This policy applies to all Kenneth Cole brands and licensees, including Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Unlisted, Bongo and Tribeca.

TAKE ACTION

Fur isn't always labeled. Ask your representative to support and co-sponsor the Dog and Cat Fur Prohibition Enforcement Act of 2007.

A player in national and international fashion markets, Kenneth Cole has more than 80 stores in the United States as well as 39 stores in more than a dozen other countries. The Kenneth Cole brands are also widely carried in department stores, including Bloomingdales, Burdines, Marshall Field's, Dillards, Lord and Taylor, Macy's, Nordstrom and The Bay.

Response to Calls for Change

After several fur pieces, including a rabbit fur handbag and a fur-trimmed jacket, appeared in their stores last season, HSUS supporters contacted Kenneth Cole urging the company to drop these cruel items.

BEAUTIES AND BEASTS

See Fashion Week in Los Angeles from a "compassion in fashion" perspective.

The HSUS applauds Kenneth Cole's humane decision to spare countless animals the unnecessary suffering, pain and death that comes from being trapped in the wild or killed in fur factory farms. With this compassionate action, Kenneth Cole joins other leading fur-free designers and companies, including Stella McCartney, Marc Bouwer, Jay McCarroll, Zara, H&M, J. Crew, Wet Seal and Forever 21.

What You Can Do

Once you have voiced your support for the Truth in Fur Labeling Act, please take your own pledge to go fur-free, and help The HSUS convince other leading designers that the animals need their fur more than we do.

See the Video

Fur Shame