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Fashion executive resigns days after restraining PETA protesters at New York runway show · Best of: Features

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  Fashion executive resigns days after restraining PETA protesters at New York Runway
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  Show. This article is being read by an automated voice, generated by
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  Everlet. New York the AP. The longtime chief executive of the Council
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  of Fashion Designers of America announced Friday that he is stepping down,
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  days after he was filmed physically restraining two protesters during an altercation
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  at a New York runway show. I am enormously proud of what
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  we have built together, and believe this is the right moment for
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  both me and the organization to begin a new chapter, Stephen Kolb
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  said in a statement. Kolb is stepping down after two decades leading
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  the council, which is known as the fashion industry's main trade organization.
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  The incident Sunday involved the top fashion executive forcibly restraining two employees
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  of people for the ethical treatment of animals and putting his hands
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  over their mouths at the runway show for Cos, a brand owned
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  by H and M, it quickly stunned many in the fashion world.
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  Kolb, who is well known and respected in the New York fashion
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  world, earlier apologized for his actions. He also had announced he was
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  taking a leave from his job, pending an investigation. CFDA described Kolb
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  as a dedicated leader and tireless champion of American fashion. We respect
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  Stephen's decision to step down and are grateful for his many years
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  of leadership and service to the CFDA and our industry, the association
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  said in a
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  statement on social media. Moira Cauley, Senior Director of Media Relations for
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  PETA in New York, said earlier in the week that The
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  group planned to meet with Kolb to discuss ending the use of
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  wool and animal skins in clothing. The organization had initially planned filing
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  a police report against Kolb, but changed course after visiting police and
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  consulting attorneys. PETA issued a statement after Kolb's announcement Friday, saying the
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  group still plan to meet with him, and hopefully others in the
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  industry will meet and take meaningful steps to stop this epidemic of
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  cruelty to animals. The group has also recognized Kolb's previous involvement in
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  getting for band from runway shows on the CFDA schedule. Andrija Barak
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  had been trying to disrupt the runway show on Sunday, calling out
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  slogans about the use of wool. In the video, Kolb is seen
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  covering her mouth with his hands and restraining her with both his
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  arms and a leg over her body, as he seeks to let
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  the show continue. Separately he is seen pushing Mason Melito and also
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  putting his hands over his mouth.