“Over the years, I have found a way to use this business and this platform to talk with people about important issues. To the degree you can bring a sense of purpose to what you do, it makes the relationship with the customer that much more meaningful and purposeful.”

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.