CFDA CEO Steven Kolb Gets Physical With PETA Activists at the COS Fall 2026 Show

Trigger warning: This story contains descriptions and depictions of violence.
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Drama came to New York Fashion Week on Sunday at the COS Fall 2026 runway show, where CFDA CEO Steven Kolb took it upon himself to physically restrain multiple PETA activists attempting to storm the runway in protest of the use of wool in fashion. At least five representatives from the animal advocacy group disrupted the presentation, with several of them making it onto the runway holding signs reading, “Sheep beaten and bloodied for wool. Don’t buy it.” Security peacefully escorted most of them from the venue (a spacious floor in lower Manhattan’s WSA).

In one corner, though, Kolb held two protestors back from the runway, ripping their signs away, putting his hands over their mouths, and in one case, wrapping his legs around a female activist to restrain her. Fashionista happened to be seated nearby and captured the below footage of the events unfolding.

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Even though it’s not a member of the CFDA or even an American fashion label — its parent company is Sweden-based H&M Group, and its lead designer Karin Gustafsson is also Swedish — COS was one of NYFW’s major shows this season. The presentation drew celebrities like John Boyega, Sharon Stone, Michelle Williams and Luptia Nyong’o, as well as fashion notables like Jenna Lyons.

Ahead of the September shows in New York, PETA issued a press release saying it would “turn up the heat” on H&M Group over its use of wool. “PETA is calling out [H&M] for duping consumers with ‘responsible wool’ claims when a recent PETA Asia video exposé into a NATIVA-certified South African wool operation tied to H&M Group’s supply chain revealed workers kicking and stomping on terrified sheep, dragging them by their legs, and leaving them with gaping wounds after crude shearing,” read the PETA statement.

Representatives from COS and the CFDA did not immediately respond to Fashionista’s request for comment.

UPDATE: Wednesday, Sept. 16, 9:15 a.m.: On Tuesday, NBC reported that Moira Colley, senior director of media relations for PETA in New York, said the group plans to meet with Kolb and will no longer file a police report against him. “The group changed course after a visit to police and then consulting with attorneys, [Colley] said, and decided to seek the meeting with Kolb. He has agreed to meet, Colley said, adding that a time had not yet been set. The group intends to show Kolb videos of how sheep are mistreated for the use of their wool,” reported NBC New York. “We are willing to drop everything if we reach an understanding that benefits the animals,” the PETA representative told the news organization.

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 14, 5:27 p.m.: The Board of the CFDA issued a revised version of its previous statement to press: “The CFDA takes this matter very seriously, and as a result, Mr. Kolb will be on leave pending a full review. The CFDA as an organization 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.”

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 14, 4:58 p.m.:
The Board of the CFDA issued the following statement to press shortly after Kolb’s Instagram posts: “The CFDA takes this matter very seriously, and as a result, Mr. Kolb has been placed on leave pending a full review. The CFDA as an organization is committed to working with dissenting voices to find commonality and is leading efforts to move the American fashion industry forward while upholding the values of our membership, including respectful engagement with differing viewpoints.” 

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 14, 4:45 p.m.: On Monday afternoon, Steven Kolb posted to his personal Instagram stories that he will be “taking a voluntary leave from work and meeting with a professional to ensure it never happens again.” He also issued an apology, writing, “My actions were wrong, and I am deeply sorry. I take full responsibility for my actions. I apologize to [the PETA protestors] and to everyone who witnessed the incident.” Kolb also stated that he has accepted an invitation from PETA to meet and discuss their concerns. “I hope to have the opportunity to apologize in person to the two individuals who did not deserve that treatment,” he wrote. See the full statement in the images below.

Steven Kolb's Monday afternoon statements

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 14, 9:55 a.m.: Representatives from the CFDA responded to Fashionista’s request for comment with the same statement it provided other news outlets: “Mr. Kolb acknowledged fully that he responded inappropriately in the moment and that the matter should have been handled by security. The CFDA agrees that these disruptions should be handle by the security professionals in place.”

UPDATE: Monday, Sept. 14, 9:15 a.m.: The CFDA issued the following statement to The New York Times and Business of Fashion: “Mr. Kolb acknowledged fully that he responded inappropriately in the moment and that the matter should have been handled by security…the CFDA agrees that these disruptions should be handled by the security professionals in place.”

UPDATE: Sunday, Sept. 13, 5:02 p.m.: PETA issued a press release regarding the matter, stating: “Moments ago, two PETA supporters were assaulted by the CEO of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Steven Kolb, during a protest over wool on the COS runway. Kolb violently grabbed one protester, held her to the floor, wrapped a leg around her, and covered her mouth and nose with his hands as she shouted, ‘Sheep bloodied and beaten for wool!’ Kolb also shoved and grabbed a second PETA member who was filming the catwalk takeover and covered his face with his hand.”

PETA also stated that it is filing a police report and plans to pursue criminal charges.

“Today’s actions show how top people in fashion use violence to silence people who expose how sheep are beaten, bloodied, and violently killed for scarves and sweaters,” PETA Founder Ingrid Newkirk said in the release.

UPDATE: Sunday, Sept. 13, 4:49 p.m.: Steven Kolb issued the following statement to WWD and on his personal 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.”

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