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“To be aware is more important than what you wear.”
This is instilled by example: Kenneth Cole’s personal dedication and service has served to motivate and add value to the corporate culture and gives greater meaning to all that we accomplish here at Kenneth Cole Productions. A strong advocate for community building and social change, Kenneth Cole has turned this company, Kenneth Cole Productions, into a powerful public awareness vehicle for such issues as AIDS, homelessness, gun safety and women’s rights among other causes.
This belief is supported through our consistent, long-term involvement with causes that address important social issues. Kenneth Cole Productions puts as much value on our success of marrying corporate initiatives with doing well as on the bottom line.
Since 1985, Kenneth Cole has served as a Board Member of the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmfAR). Long before the world was aware of this raging epidemic, Kenneth had the foresight to raise public awareness through his advertising, one of the first to do this. The first ad ran in 1986, and featured all the top models of the day (barefoot) posed with children and the copy read: “For the future of our children… support AIDS research.” These awareness efforts have continued in our ad campaigns ever since and will continue until a cure is found.
Another AIDS awareness vehicle has been our annual World AIDS Day promotion in which a portion of our retail store proceeds benefit amfAR. Additionally, Kenneth Cole Productions lends its in-house marketing and advertising services to amfAR, as Kenneth is Vice Chairman of amfAR and Director of Creative Services. To find out more about the American Foundation for AIDS Research, visit www.amfar.org.
Kenneth Cole Productions also supports HELP USA, the nation’s largest provider for housing, jobs and services for the homeless. Kenneth is a founding board member and since 1986, HELP USA has been assisting the homeless make the difficult transition from welfare to work and has already helped over 10,000 families get back on their feet. In addition to sponsoring homeless-related events and helping promote awareness through our advertising, Kenneth Cole Productions has sponsored an annual shoe drive for the homeless since 1993. Each February, consumers are encouraged to donate lightly worn shoes and clothing at any Kenneth Cole store to benefit the homeless, in exchange for a percentage off a new pair. To date, over 800,000 pairs of shoes have been donated to HELP USA and other local homeless organisations. Currently we are working on expanding this effort to include our wholesale partners in this worthwhile cause. To find out more about HELP USA, visit www.helpusa.org.
Kenneth Cole Productions has always focused on not just the customer’s outer layer, but also their inner being. We continue to find creative ways to fulfill both agendas on a national and local level. This reminds us everyday of our corporate initiative: ‘What you stand for is more important than what you stand in.’
Shoe Studio Group
The Shoe Studio Group is the largest multi branded, concession operator within department stores and multi fascia footwear retailer in the UK with an extensive portfolio of In House footwear and other multi-faceted brands. Most recently they were awarded Best Multiple Retailer 2004 as well as Footwear Retailer of the Year 2004.
In autumn 2002, The Shoe Studio Group signed an exclusive licence agreement with Kenneth Cole Productions to manage all distribution for men’s and women’s footwear, clothing and accessories of Kenneth Cole New York and Kenneth Cole Reaction.
The Shoe Studio Group also houses Pied A Terre, Bertie, Nine West, Roberto Vianni, Roland Cartier and Easy Spirit.
Lancaster Group UK
Lancaster Group UK, the prestige division of COTY INC, is one of the world's leading cosmetics and fragrances companies. Within its large portfolio of prestige brands, Lancaster holds the license, acquired in 2002, for Kenneth Cole fragrances, which includes the masculine yet sensual Black-Kenneth Cole for Him and the ultra-feminine Black-Kenneth Cole for Her. Proud, outspoken, committed to their dreams, the Kenneth Cole fragrances distill this spirit into provocative scents of passion, compassion and a new metro style. They capture the essence of the city in a bottle and the energy, optimism and the activism of people in the streets. The fragrances celebrate life.
Sharp International
Sharp International Ltd was established in 1996 by Peter Middleton & Tim Meyrick. In 1998, the company was granted the exclusive license to distribute Kenneth Cole watches & sunglasses in the UK & Ireland, with distribution in France following in 2001. Kenneth Cole watches & sunglasses can be found in all major department stores & selected jewellery chains.
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