KENNETH COLE's sleek lines define modern fashion-his forward-thinking attitude epitomizes the urban spirit. Knowing that the clothes will sell on their own merit, KENNETH COLE uses advertising to focus on social issues, and is recognized worldwide as a leader in the fight against AIDS. KENNETH COLE innovative style has helped him to create an aesthetic and an attitude that people can realistically aspire to.

Innovation has been a KENNETH COLE trademark from the debut of his first shoe line in 1982. When there wasn't money in the budget to buy space at a New York shoe show, he set up shop in a borrowed trailer just outside the venue. His main obstacle was a city ordinance that only allowed utility trucks and film crews to park in Midtown Manhattan.

To get over this hurdle, KENNETH COLE Inc. became KENNETH COLE Productions Inc. and he applied for a permit to shoot a film entitled "The Birth of a Shoe Company". With cameras rolling and a small cast and crew, he set up shop. KENNETH COLE didn't create a cinematic masterpiece, but he managed to sell 40,000 pairs of shoes-just enough to get his company up and running. The line has grown to include men's and women's clothing, but the name KENNETH COLE Productions Inc. remains. It serves as a reminder to the importance of resourcefulness and innovative problem solving.

Fast becoming one of the leading names in contemporary fashion, KENNETH COLE continues to create shoes and clothes that are in step with modern lifestyles. In his own words "A brand today is much more than status. Consumers have to be able to trust it".