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Cause & Effect
Written by: Molly Knight
Photos by: Jennifer Graylock-FWD
New York, Feb 12, 2001/ FWD/ ---
When Kenneth Cole sent out invitations for his Fall/Winter 2001 runway show reading "We
love what you're NOT wearing," he wasn't talking about your new handbag.
Instead, Cole was referring to the used clothing and shoes he asked guests to bring to the
show. Printed on a full-sized clothes hanger covered in white paper, the invitation called
on the fashion crowd to drop off "gently worn" fashions at the entrance to the show as a
donation to the organization HELP (a provider of homes, jobs and services for the homeless).
Since the inception of his line, charity work has been Cole's modus operandi.
Why lend a social conscience to a fashion show? In Cole's view, why not?
"The truth is, putting on a show is obscenely expensive," the designer told FWD backstage
before the show. "And to me, to not make it part of a greater message than just fashion is
criminal."
Cole's message rang clear in the domed Vanderbilt room of Grand Central Station, the venue
for the show. In fact, when asked what they like most about Cole's collections, many of his
fans instead talked about his conscience.
"He's figured out a way to give back to the community," said a bed-headed Kevin Bacon who sat
front-row. "He's garnered great success and turned it into something that helps the community."
Relaxing before she took to the runway, statuesque model Alek Wek said of Cole: "I love his
clothes, but I also love that he doesn't just sell them to get rich. Instead, he's got a cause."
After the show, of course, talk turned to Cole's collection. Waxing enthusiastic about the
highly wearable mix of separates, guests confessed to spring shopping from their seats. "I
wanted everything I saw," said one fashion editor.
Playing on the military theme, Cole showed army-green everything - dresses, knee-high boots,
blouses and tights - and super wide belts reinforced with multiple buckles. He gave his
signature, sleek leather a beat-up, aged look, and put epaulettes on bomber jackets. Highlights
of the collection included slim suede pants in a variety of colors, knee-high suede boots
wrapped with strips of fabric and clingy, cowl-necked dresses accessorized with low-slung belts.
In only his second season designing women's clothes, Cole said he's still searching for the
answer to the ultimate question: What do women want? "Men change their minds every six weeks,
and women change theirs every six minutes," he said. "Figuring out what women want is the
ultimate challenge." For now, it seems, the designer is rising to the task.
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