Our Story
For over 30 years, we have sought to make a more meaningful connection with people by addressing not just what they look like on the outside, but who they are on the inside; not just what they stand in, but what they stand for.
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1982
GETTING THE SHOE ON THE ROAD…
KENNETH COLE PRODUCTIONS (KCP) INCORPORATES AND LAUNCHES FIRST KENNETH COLE NEW YORK WOMEN’S SHOE COLLECTION.
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1984
THE FIRST STORE OPENS ON COLUMBUS AVENUE IN NYC.
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KCP LAUNCHES FIRST KENNETH COLE
NEW YORK SHOE COLLECTION FOR MEN. -
1985
KENNETH PARTNERS WITH THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH (amfAR).
KENNETH PARTNERS WITH THE AMERICAN FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH (amfAR).
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1986
YOU NEVER FORGET YOUR FIRST.
Our first ad promoting HIV/AIDS Awareness in support of amfAR, starting our lifelong commitment to the cause
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FIRST MAN STANDING.
Our first ad addressing sensible gun reform, starting our lifelong commitment to the cause
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1987
KENNETH IS ELECTED TO THE BOARD OF amfAR
(Pictured with Founder and Chairman Dr. Mathilde Krim).
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KCP LAUNCHES THE BRAND UNLISTED,
A KENNETH COLE PRODUCTION.——
KENNETH COLE NEW YORK LAUNCHES HANDBAGS.
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1992
HEART AND SOLE.
WE INITIATE THE FIRST “SHOE DRIVE” IN SUPPORT OF HOMELESS POPULATIONS AND HAVE SINCE COLLECTED AND DONATED OVER 2 MILLION PAIRS OF SHOES.
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1993
EQUAL TO THE TASK.
Our first ad in support of LGBTQ+ rights to protest “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” starting our lifelong commitment to the cause. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” was finally repealed in 2011
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1996
FIRST STORE OPENS IN EUROPE.
(High, Amsterdam!)
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KENNETH COLE NEW YORK
LAUNCHES WATCHES(It was about time).
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FORBES MAGAZINE NAMES KCP #21 OF ITS “BEST 200 SMALL COMPANIES IN AMERICA.”
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WALKING THE TALK.
Kenneth Cole Associates begin supporting AIDS Walk’s around the country, a tradition we support to this day
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2000
KENCOLE.COM GOES LIVE
(KCP increases its net worth).
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KCP MOVES OFFICES TO
603 WEST 50TH STREET. -
2001
KENNETH COLE NEW YORK LAUNCHES MEN’S AND WOMEN’S FRAGRANCES
(WHICH MAKES A LOT OF SCENTS).
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KENNETH COLE NEW YORK
LAUNCHES EYEWEAR(AND HE OFFICIALLY BECOMES A MAN WITH A VISION).
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FIRST STORE OPENS IN LATIN AMERICA.
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2002
KENNETH COLE NEW YORK LAUNCHES SUNGLASSES.
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amfAR ELECTS KENNETH AS VICE-CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD.
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KENNETH COLE REACTION LAUNCHES
KIDS’ FOOTWEAR(A SURE STEP FOR GROWTH).
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FOOTSTEPS TO FELLOW.
KENNETH LAUNCHES AN INNOVATIVE FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM AT EMORY THAT IDENTIFIES, ENCOURAGES, AND EDUCATES YOUNG SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURS AND COMMUNITY BUILDERS.
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BEST SUPPORTING ROLE.
KENNETH JOINS THE BOARD OF THE SUNDANCE INSTITUTE AND BECOMES THE OFFICIAL UNIFORM PROVIDER FOR THE FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS.
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STEPPING UP.
AMFAR NAMES KENNETH CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD AND CHANGES ITS NAME TO “THE FOUNDATION FOR AIDS RESEARCH” TO REFLECT ITS GLOBAL EFFORTS.
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2005
"WE ALL HAVE AIDS" CAMPAIGN LAUNCHED
(THE LARGEST PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT AT THE TIME).
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FIRST STORE OPENS IN ASIA.
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KCP ACQUIRES GENTLE SOULS.
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GUIDING PRINCIPLES.
KENNETH COLE ASSOCIATES BEGIN THEIR LONG-STANDING PARTNERSHIP WITH MENTORING USA.
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THERE’S A RELIEF.
We create advertising and merchandise to support Hurricane Katrina relief, starting our lifelong commitment to disaster relief
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2008
BEING AWEAR.
WE LAUNCH AWEARNESS, THE KENNETH COLE FOUNDATION, TO ENCOMPASS ALL OF OUR PHILANTHROPIC EFFORTS.
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PROMOTING EQUALI-TEE.
We begin our partnership with The Human Rights Campaign, continuing our commitment to LGBTQ+ equality
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HEELING NATURE.
We begin our lifelong commitment to rebuilding Haiti by sending shoes and funds to support victims of the 2010 Earthquake
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SALUTING WITH PRIDE.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE HUMAN RIGHTS CAMPAIGN, WE CREATE A T-SHIRT TO SUPPORT THE REPEAL OF “DON’T ASK, DON’T TELL.”
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2011
WEAR TRYING TO HELP.
WE CREATE A FUNDRAISING T-SHIRT IN SUPPORT OF THE JAPAN TSUNAMI RELIEF EFFORT.
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EXPLORING NEW OPTIONS.
Kenneth Cole and associates travel to Haiti to support communities in need
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COMING TOGETHER.
WE PARTNER WITH THE MTV STAYING ALIVE FOUNDATION AND AMFAR TO REINTERPRET THE ICONIC AIDS RIBBON AND LAUNCH IT THROUGH A CELEBRITY PSA CAMPAIGN.
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PROUD DAY.
We continue our advocacy for marriage equality with this ad. On this day, same-sex marriage was legalized in New York state, and for all states by the Supreme Court in 2015
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2012
TOTE-ALLY REGISTERING.
We begin our lifelong commitment to voting and civil liberties with the launch of a voter registration campaign ahead of the 2012 election
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KCP LAUNCHES KENNETH COLE REACTION HOME.
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KENNETH COLE PRODUCTIONS
GOES PRIVATE(Again).
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KCP LAUNCHES KENNETH COLE NEW YORK AND KENNETH COLE REACTION UNDERWEAR.
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KCP OPENS FIRST STORE IN INDIA.
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CENTER OF ATTENTION.
IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. LUKE FOUNDATION FOR HAITI, WE LAUNCH THE KENNETH COLE HAITI HEALTH CENTER IN CITÉ SOLEIL, WHICH IS ACCESSIBLE TO OVER 1.5 MILLION PEOPLE.
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MAKING AN EFFORT.
IN SUPPORT OF THE HURRICANE SANDY RELIEF EFFORTS, WE CREATE A T-SHIRT, DONATE A PORTION OF OUR SALES, AND ENCOURAGE OUR ASSOCIATES TO VOLUNTEER.
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2013
KCP CELEBRATES ITS THIRTIETH ANNIVERSARY
(THE NINTH ANNIVERSARY OF OUR TWENTY-FIRST YEAR IN BUSINESS).
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WEARING IS CARING.
WE CREATE A FUNDRAISING T-SHIRT IN SUPPORT OF THE TYPHOON RELIEF EFFORT IN THE PHILIPPINES.
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THE BIG PICTURE.
KENNETH EXECUTIVE PRODUCES THE HBO DOCUMENTARY “THE BATTLE OF AMFAR.”
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5-YEARS OF HEELING.
Kenneth Cole and associates volunteer in Haiti to mark the 5-year anniversary of the Earthquake and begin our partnership with non-profit organization, Deux Mains
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MARRIAGE IS JUST THE BEGINNING.
MARRIAGE EQUALITY IS MADE LEGAL IN THE U.S., BUT MANY MORE CIVIL RIGHTS LAWS NEED TO BE RECTIFIED, SO WE CREATE A TEE FOR THE HRC.
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FEELING COURAGEOUS.
WE LAUNCH THE COURAGEOUS CLASS TO RECOGNIZE INSPIRING INDIVIDUALS WITH THE BELIEF THAT THE REAL MODELS ARE THE ROLE MODELS.
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VETERAN AWEARNESS.
OUR AWEARNESS KENNETH COLE BRAND SUPPORTS VETERANS TO HELP THEM TRANSITION INTO THE WORKFORCE, SO WE CREATE A FLOAT FOR THE VETERANS’ DAY PARADE IN NYC.
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2016
REWARDING RECYCLING.
WE PARTNER WITH I:CO TO EVOLVE OUR SHOE DRIVE TO RECYCLE AND REPURPOSE USED SHOES AND CLOTHING FOR COMMUNITIES IN NEED.
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STAND UP, SHOW UP, OR SHUT UP CAMPAIGN
For the 2016 election, Kenneth Cole partners with ROCK THE VOTE to launch the STAND UP, SHOW UP, OR SHUT UP campaign to encourage people to register and vote on election day.
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KENNETH COLE FOOTWEAR + ACCESSORY INNOVATION PROGRAM
Kenneth Cole partners with Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to create the Kenneth Cole Footwear + Accessory Innovation Program.
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KCP GOES #STIGMAFREE
Kenneth Cole joins six other companies as an inaugural Stigmafree company of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI).
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WORLD AIDS DAY 2016
To commemorate World AIDS Day. Kenneth Cole, launches the World AIDS Day sneaker with 15% of all proceeds going to support amfAR.
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2017
AWEARNESS AT MEN’S WEARHOUSE RAISES NEARLY $2MILLION
A one percent contribution from all gross sales of “AWEARNESS Kenneth Cole” products sold at Men’s Wearhouse were allocated toward HELP USA, Hire Heroes, and True Patriot Love.
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KENNETH COLE PARTNERS WITH GIVE BACK BOX
On Earth Day 2017, Kenneth Cole launches their partnership with Give Back Box—a platform that collects clothing, footwear, and home good donations from retailers through e-commerce orders around the country.
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PRIDE 2017
To celebrate Pride and Kenneth’s longtime support for LGBTQ rights, a limited-edition Kam sneaker was created with rainbow detailing, with a contribution being made to the Human Rights Campaign.
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KENNETH WINS SWAROVSKI AWARD
In 2017, the CFDA honors Kenneth with the Swarovski Award for Positive Change, which highlights an individual in the U.S. fashion industry who has made a positive impact on American communities and has improved the welfare of others.
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2018
NEW FRAGRANCE LAUNCH
In January 2018, Kenneth Cole launched a women’s fragrance for the first time in 13 years.
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KENNETH COLE IN CANADA
In July 2018, Kenneth Cole opens its first free-standing store in Canada.
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