“My first AIDS campaign was in 1985. There was this dark cloud, everybody was socially inspired - we hadn't seen social consciousness like that since the '60s - but most people were talking about hunger in Africa. Nobody was talking about this really ominous circumstance here in the U.S. because of this fear of stigma.”

American designer, social activist, business owner, and philanthropist

Kenneth D. Cole is an American designer, social activist, business owner, and philanthropist. He is known for founding Kenneth Cole Productions and building it into a global company. His company makes clothing and other products under the labels Kenneth Cole New York, Reaction Kenneth Cole, and Unlisted, and it also produces footwear under Gentle Souls. Beyond business, Cole is associated with social activism and philanthropy, which form part of his public identity alongside his work in fashion.