As chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America, the trade association for the American fashion industry, Steven Kolb, has overseen the implementation of some of the council’s most important initiatives, including the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund and the Geoffrey Beene Scholarship. In 2010, Kolb also helped launch the CFDA Fashion Incubator programme to help support young designers, which in 2018 was re-branded as "Network," expanding its mentorship opportunities to all CFDA members.
An experienced veteran of non-profit organisations, Kolb previously held senior positions with the American Cancer Society, the Design Industries Foundation Fighting Aids organisation and MTVN International where he served as executive director of the Staying Alive foundation. First joining the CFDA in 2006, Kolb was appointed as CEO in 2011, overseeing all operations of the association and its affiliated charity as well as key events such as the annual CFDA fashion awards.
Following the #MeToo movement in fashion, the CFDA expanded the CFDA Health Initiative to the Initiative for Health, Safety, and Diversity, encouraging designers to work only with models aged 18 and above.
Kolb is also currently acting as the CFDA board chair in addition to his role as CEO.
He led the launch of Runway360, CFDA's digital fashion week platform steering New York Fashion Week back to in person events, catwalks and activations.
Kolb regularly collaborates with trade associations in Milan, Paris and the UK to promote American designers. He is a graduate of Glassboro State College where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree, and has completed a Masters in Public Administration at New York University.
Chief Executive
2006 - Present
2005 - 2006
1989 - 2004
VITAL STATISTICS
Inside BoF and Shop With Google’s New York Fashion Week Dinner
Designers Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson and Brendon Babenzien, together with Steven Kolb, Laurent Claquin, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julie Gilhart, and more, joined BoF’s Imran Amed and Google’s Stephanie Horton.
Inside BoF and Shop With Google’s New York Fashion Week Dinner
Designers Tory Burch, Jason Wu, Phillip Lim, Prabal Gurung, Sergio Hudson and Brendon Babenzien, together with Steven Kolb, Laurent Claquin, Gabriella Karefa-Johnson, Julie Gilhart, and more, joined BoF’s Imran Amed and Google’s Stephanie Horton.
The CFDA Launches Metaverse Education Programme
The program aims to inform US fashion talent about the metaverse and web3, and connect CFDA members with tools and resources to launch their own projects.
New York Fashion Week Will Go On
The Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) released its preliminary “American Collections” calendar for the Autumn/Winter 2022 shows, which will take place Feb. 11 to Feb. 16.
New York Fashion Week Will Be A Packed Return to Live Shows
The schedule, which CFDA released in an official capacity with IMG for the first time, includes a lineup of stalwarts as well as young designers.
Will Covid-19 Change Fashion Shows Forever?
After the cancellation of this season’s traditional men’s fashion week in Paris, Virgil Abloh’s recent Louis Vuitton outing in Shanghai offered a savvy template for how to stage a fashion show in a world reshaped by globalisation, the internet and coronavirus. What does it mean for fashion week?
Will Covid-19 Change Fashion Shows Forever?
After the cancellation of this season’s traditional men’s fashion week in Paris, Virgil Abloh’s recent Louis Vuitton outing in Shanghai offered a savvy template for how to stage a fashion show in a world reshaped by globalisation, the internet and coronavirus. What does it mean for fashion week?
Power Moves | CFDA Names New President, PVH Corp Hires New Chief Human Resources Officer From Nike
This week, the Council of Fashion Designers of America promoted CaSandra Diggs to president of its organisation, while PVH Corp named Julie Fuller chief human resources officer.
Black Professionals Petition CFDA Over ‘Hasty Attempts’ to Counter Racism
A group of 250 professionals submitted a four-part proposal, named after black designer Patrick Kelly, the first American to be admitted to the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter.
Vogue and the CFDA Set Up Shop on Amazon
Through the fundraising initiative A Common Thread, 20 independent New York brands will begin selling their collections on the e-commerce marketplace as part of an effort to help struggling designers.
Tom Ford Hints at a Post-NYFW Future
The designer did what he does best: got people talking.
Did Tom Ford Betray New York Fashion Week? Not So Fast.
The CFDA chairman’s decision to do what’s best for his label and show in Los Angeles may spark the ‘creative destruction’ that American fashion needs in order to progress.
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What is The BoF 500?
The people shaping the global fashion industry, curated by the editors of The Business of Fashion, based on nominations and on-the-ground intelligence from around the world.
