CFDA Leader Placed on Leave After Confrontation With Animal Rights Activists at Fashion Week Show

On September 13 during New York Fashion Week, five PETA activists interrupted a live runway presentation for COS's Spring/Summer 2027 collection. The protesters, who had positioned themselves among the assembled fashion editors and buyers, objected to what they characterized as cruel treatment of sheep by COS and its parent corporation H&M Group in the production of wool textiles. The activists interjected themselves at various points throughout the show while holding placards and vocalizing concerns about animal protection. A physical confrontation occurred between one protester and an audience member who was subsequently identified as Steven Kolb, the chief executive officer of the Council of Fashion Designers of America. Security personnel subsequently removed multiple protesters from the venue.

A protester on the runway at the COS fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 13, 2026.Credit: Getty Images

Following the incident on September 13, Steven Kolb, who holds the position of president at the Council of Fashion Designers of America, has been placed on temporary leave while the organization conducts a comprehensive examination of the circumstances.

"The CFDA takes this matter very seriously, and as a result, Mr. Kolb will be on leave pending a full review," a representative from the organization stated, as reported by Business of Fashion on September 14. The statement continued: "The CFDA as an organisation is committed to working with dissenting voices to find commonality and is engaged in efforts to move the American fashion industry forward while upholding the values of our membership, including respectful engagement with differing viewpoints."

In response to the confrontation, Kolb posted a message to his Instagram account on September 13. "I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today," he wrote, according to The New York Times. "It wasn't my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation."

According to reporting from WWD, PETA representatives have announced their intention to submit a report to law enforcement and to seek criminal prosecution against Kolb.

One of the demonstrators, Mason Melito, shared remarks with InStyle immediately following the disruption: "Anything that could have resulted from this show is nothing compared to what the sheep go through in the wool industry. ...We are going to continue putting pressure on all of H&M Group, including COS, until it bans wool from its runways."

When approached for a statement regarding the disruption at the presentation, representatives of COS did not provide a timely response to InStyle's inquiry. An investigation released in October 2025 by Four Paws, an animal welfare advocacy group, recognized COS among major international companies demonstrating excellence in wool sector transparency. COS has outlined a commitment in its official Design and Craft vision statement to collaborate with material suppliers for the purpose of guaranteeing responsible sourcing of fibers used in garment production.

Models on the runway at the COS fashion show during New York Fashion Week on September 13, 2026.Credit: Getty Images

"At COS, we work closely with suppliers to handpick materials with intention—every cloth is meticulously selected for its character, yarn count, fibre length and finish to ensure quality and longevity," the company communicated on its website. The brand further elaborated: "Natural and organic fibers are a priority at COS. We pride ourselves on the quality of our materials and carefully consider every yarn to fit its purpose. From T-shirts with a clean, compact finish and pristine poplin shirts to our cashmere, wool, cotton or silk knitwear, our collections are crafted with the finest fibers for a luxurious feel with staying power."

The brand's website includes an expandable section providing specifics regarding the origins of animal-derived fibers incorporated into their product lines, encompassing NATIVA™ wool, recycled wool, and Responsible Wool Standard (RWS) wool. According to the NATIVA Wool section: "Farms certified under the NATIVA™ protocol must implement plans for soil and land management, safe working and living conditions for farmers, and animal welfare."

The Recycled Wool portion notes that this material is "made from textile waste in production or from end-of-life textile waste" and is "mechanically recycled and spun into new yarn." The description of RWS wool states: "Products certified to the Responsible Wool Standard (RWS TE-00047206) owned by Textile Exchange contain wool fibre from farms independently certified to animal welfare and land-management requirements."

Models walk the runway during the finale of the COS fashion show in New York City on September 14, 2025.Credit: Getty Images

The current New York Fashion Week season represents the inaugural event following the CFDA's formal declaration forbidding the use of authentic animal pelts during runway presentations. "Beginning with September 2026 New York Fashion Week, the CFDA will no longer permit animal fur in collections on the Official NYFW Schedule," the association declared in December. The announcement specified: "This timeline gives designers space to adjust their materials and show plans."

The directive further clarified: "Farmed or trapped fur from animals killed specifically for their pelts—including but not limited to mink, fox, rabbit, karakul lamb, chinchilla, coyote, and raccoon dog—is not allowed. An exemption applies only to animal fur obtained by Indigenous communities through traditional subsistence hunting practices." AM