Kenneth Cole - Super Brands

For those looking for fashion and function,
Kenneth Cole has a chic messenger bag in blackand-white colourblock as well as a classic soft tote.
Kenneth Cole’s shoes are stronger than ever.
For the sporty-girl, there are cool slip on sneakers
that range from pretty florals to animal prints.
For those who shy away from prints, the classic
slip on sneaker is also offered in perforated leather
making them anything but basic.
Kenneth Cole also offers the perforated leather
in a classic lace up tennis shoe, perfect for the
Sporty Spice in all of us.
Flat sandals range from sporty thick strap
versions with contrasting white soles to a feminine
gladiator with gold metal hardware. The summer
espadrille makes its mark in both a flat version
with an ankle strap to a chunky platform in
perforated leather.
MARKET
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc is an American
fashion house founded in 1982 by Kenneth Cole.
Wanting to preview his line of shoes at Market
Week at the New York Hilton, but unable to
afford the purchase of a hotel room or showroom
to display his items, Kenneth Cole inquired about
parking a trailer two blocks from the Hilton Hotel.
When discovering that permits for trailers were
only granted to utility and production companies
innovative Cole changed the name of his company
from Kenneth Cole Incorporated to Kenneth Cole
Productions and applied for a permit to film the
full-length film, “The Birth of a Shoe Company”.
In two and a half days, Kenneth Cole Productions
sold forty thousand pairs of shoes, while
chronicling the beginning of the company on film.
To this day the Company is still named Kenneth
Cole Productions Inc. and serves as a constant
reminder of the importance of resourcefulness,
creativity and innovative problem solving.
Apparel Group LLC, a Dubai based exclusive
licensee, represents this premier fashion shoes and
accessories brand in the Gulf.
Kenneth Cole Men’s Spring 2015
Kenneth Cole looks to the city streets for
inspiration. The city is always moving, changing
and evolving. The air is filled with excitement and
energy. Each day is a journey, an adventure.
What lies ahead? No-one knows, but Kenneth
Cole will keep you looking cool and ready every
move you make.
RECENT DEVELOPMENTS
ACHIEVEMENTS
Divine Design Humanitarian of the Year (1996)
Footwear News Man of the Year (1996) CFDA
Humanitarian of the Year (1997) Creative
Coalition Spotlight Award (1997) Forbes Magazine
Best 200 Small Companies in America
FFANY Fashion Medal of Honor (1997) Amnesty
International Media Spotlight Award (1998)
AmfAR Award of Courage (2000)
NY Magazine Fashion Award of the Year (2000)
CFDA Menswear Designer of the Year Nominee
(2000)
Italian Trade Commission Life in Style Award
(2001)
Univ. of Illinois School of Public Health Honorary
Doctorate (2001)
Manhattanville College Honorary Doctorate
(2001)
Fashion Accessories Benefit Ball Achievement
Award (2002)
Human Rights Equity Corporate Equality Award
(2002)
AmfAR Chairman of the Board (2005)
National Arts Club Humanitarian Award (2007)
FABB Fashion Meets Compassion (2007)
AMY Award YMA Fashion Scholarship Fund
(2008)
Northeastern University Honorary Doctorate
(2009)
Legal Aid Society Theodore Roosevelt Award for
Corporate Responsibility (2009)
FGI humanitarian of the Year (2009)
Footwear News Social impact award (2011)
InStyle Magazine & Handbag Designer 101
iconoclast award (2012)
Ralph Hayes Common Wealth Foundation
common Wealth award for Public Service (2012)
amfAR New York Gala honoree (2013)
Ischia Film Festival humanitarian award (2013)
Millennium Campus Network Global Generation
award 2013
HISTORY
Fashion Designer Kenneth Cole founded his
company, Kenneth Cole Productions, with the
debut of a ladies’ footwear collection in December
of 1982. Today the company manufactures
internationally and distributes men’s and women’s
footwear, accessories and clothing under the
Kenneth Cole, Reaction, and unlisted.com labels,
as well as offering over 30 product categories.
Kenneth Cole’s marketing savvy has earned the
Company a renowned image as a forerunner of
fashion and trends. His controversial advertising
campaign has garnered worldwide attention for its
humour and social consciousness.
76
There are plenty of cool tees from bold
striped to slub yarns that work back to just about
everything.
The classic woven shirt gets an athletic twist
with mesh insets.
Hoods are a key element and can be found on
everything from a vest to knits.
The sweatshirt gets a fashionable twist with a
fresh play on colourblocking.
Who doesn’t love a sweater? There are plenty
of lightweight knits this spring with sporty stripes,
leather piecing, mixed media versions and bold
colorblocking.
The cargo pant gets a modern update for spring
with a flat cargo and tapered leg for a sleek look,
while the five pocket pant is a dressed up tailored
version of the jean and can be found in the classic
Kenneth Cole colours.
Let’s face it, bags are not just for women
anymore. This season, the slingback is introduced
in rich black leather, it’s a sleeker more grown-up
version of a knapsack with plenty of cool attitude.
For those who are not as daring, there is a tote
and weekender bag in washed leather for a
broken in/worn in attitude – perfect accessories to
complete any man’s look.
So what’s new in footwear? The jogger is
introduced in perforated leather and suede.
The classic hightop is going strong and has been
the shoe of choice, this season it gets a modern
update in neoprene.
The slip on comes in a variety of fabrics and
colors from suede to patent leather. For those
who are not as daring to wear sneakers to
work, there are modern casual dress shoes with
contrasting colour soles.
PRODUCT
Kenneth Cole Woman’s Spring 2015
The quick pace of the city, the constant movement,
the excitement, the energy. New York City is the
city that never sleeps. Every day is a journey, an
adventure. What lies ahead? No one knows, but
Kenneth Cole will keep you looking chic, modern
and cool every step of the way.
To keep up with today’s woman, Kenneth Cole
has you covered. It’s all about chic and modern
pieces that you can build upon, the urban girl’s
uniform of black and white.
In a nod to menswear, tailoring is key. The classic
blazer gets a modernly fresh twist when it
becomes both sleeveless and belted for a chic
workwear alternative.
The collarless blouse is fluid and easy when
paired with black skinny ankle length pants, just
the right length to show of Kenneth Cole’s great
shoes. Mini or maxi, shir ts are offered in a range
of lengths, but always with a sexy modern edge.
No woman’s collection is complete without the
perfect shoes and bags. Bags are offered in classic
black and white with the occasional pop of colour.
For the times you want a more refined, lady-like
look, the top-handle, structured bag is perfect.
For the trendy obsessed, there are plenty to
choose from:
- The slingback is a sleek version of the backpack
trend.
- The bucket bag is key and offered in both solid
colours as well as colourblock.
A variety of shoulder bags with chain straps are
great functional bags especially in a vibrant green.
To keep up with today’s man, Kenneth Cole has
you covered.
It’s all about movement, intersecting every part
of his lifestyle in one. Sport meets Leisure meets
Tailoring. It’s all a great mix of everyday life in the
urban man’s concrete jungle.
It all star ts with the great suit jacket, tailored
to perfection yet has plenty of stretch to keep you
going.
Sure you can pair it over a slim cut trouser and
classic woven shirt for the office, but Kenneth
Cole also offers a more modern approach. Why
not pair the blazer over a textured knit sweater
and a slim pair of joggers for an updated urban
uniform. Sure there are plenty of great blazers,
most noteworthy the crisp white linen version,
but Kenneth Cole offers a variety of modern
outerwear.
The classic leather jacket gets a twist when
washed building character to the classic with a
broken-in feeling.
A hooded nylon vest is the perfect layering
piece for both under blazers or over knits.
The hybrid sport jacket looks fresh and young
when a zipper gives it just the right dose of edge
while the track jacket adds just the right amount
of streetwear credibility.
Going back to the streets, Kenneth Cole
offers a modern sporty line-up that can take you
anywhere from the office to the gym. The jogger
pant is going strong and for spring, a dressed up
skinnier version makes its mark while the shorts
and the coated version have a true fashion
forward edge.
In 1985 Kenneth Cole was the first member of
the fashion community to take a public stand in
the fight against AIDS. Since then he has continued
to suppor t the global fight through both
personal and corporate initiatives including the
dedication of an ongoing por tion of marketing
budget to public awareness initiatives. Cole
continues to serve as a National Board Member
of both AmFAR: The American Foundation for
AIDS Research since 1985 and the HELP USA
Homeless project since its inception in 1987.
Kenneth Cole has been recognised for his
design and business talents as well as for his
philanthropic involvement. The Creative Coalition
honoured Kenneth with their Spotlight Award for
dedication to increasing public awareness; Amnesty
International honoured Kenneth Cole with
their 1998 Media Spotlight Award. Kenneth was
simultaneously chosen as Humanitarian of the Year
by Divine Design and the CFDA presented their
Award for Humanitarian Excellence to Kenneth
Cole in 1996. Kenneth Cole has been awarded
the Extraordinary Voice Award by Mother’s Voices
for his continued effor ts in AIDS awareness. Cole
was recipient of the Council on Foundations 1996
Humanitarian Leadership award. Kenneth Cole has
received the footwear industry’s highest honour
as Footwear News’ Person of The Year”. Fashion
Footwear Association of New York (FFANY)
honoured Kenneth Cole with The Fashion Medal
of Honour Award at their 1997 Gala.
Kenneth Cole Productions continues to declare
“What you stand for is more important than what
you stand in” and “To be aware is more important
than what you wear.”
PROMOTION
Kenneth Cole’s socially conscious advertising for
the causes that he champions can be somewhat
controversial but are always meant to stir positive
change. One such example was his campaign for
World AIDS Day in 2005.
He designed T-Shirts for the campaign which
were sold at such stores as Barneys New York,
Scoop and Louis Boston. The messages on the
shirts stated either, “We All Have AIDS” or “I Have
AIDS.” Cole created the shirts in hopes that those
with or without AIDS would wear the shirts, to
help diminish the stigma attached to the disease.
BRAND VALUES
We are metropolitan
An insightful brand with sophisticated customers
and modern product
We are socially conscious
A meaningful brand with compassionate
customers and impactful product
We are unconventional
A thought-provoking brand with a creative
customer and innovative product
Mission: Be the catalyst for modern men and
women to Look Good, For Good
Vision: Be the international standard for New
York style and social consciousness
www.kennethcole.com
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT
KENNETH COLE
l Since 1985 Kenneth Cole has been
openly involved in publicly supporting AIDS
awareness and research. He is considered the
first in the fashion industry to do so.
l He uses fashion as a medium to promote
socially conscious ads to help fight various
causes from AIDS to homelessness. He has
donated proceeds to such organisations as
Mentoring USA, amfAR and Rock the Vote.
l Kenneth Cole is the chairman of amfAR
l In 1998 People Magazine voted Cole as
“Sexiest
Businessman of the Year”.
l In October 2007 Cole guest-starred in the
Ugly
Betty episode Betty’s Wait Problem
l In 2013 the company celebrated its 30th
anniversar y, with events to commemorate it.
l Kenneth wrote a coffee table book called
THIS IS A KENNETH COLE PRODUCTION
to celebrate the anniversary.