Kenneth Cole Recaptures Its Heritage With the Launch of a Provocative, Interactive Platform for F/W 2011

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) New York, NY - August 8, 2011 - Under the direction of Founder and Chief Creative Officer Kenneth Cole, for nearly 30 years the brand has made a statement through its iconic, provocative voice.  This September, with the launch of a new, interactive digital platform (“WHERE DO YOU STAND?”), the company will return to what it does best:  sparking a dialogue about important social issues, and encouraging individuals to get involved.  The platform, which is the start of a larger ongoing initiative, will function as a virtual community hub for discussion and debate, and will launch with four of today’s most relevant social issues: Marriage Equality, Gun Control, A Woman’s Right To Choose, and War.

Understanding the growing role that social media plays in focusing global attention on important social issues, and rallying communities around these causes, for the very first time, the company will use a vanity URL on its campaign images as a call to action.  Consumers will be encouraged to visit WhereDoYouStand.com to weigh in on specific questions about the social issues featured in the campaign.  Once there, they will be able to participate in varying degrees of online debate using Facebook and Twitter.  In keeping with the company’s heritage, four short films bringing the issues to life will be featured on the site, as well as a video of Kenneth Cole detailing his motivation and inspiration for the campaign.    Consumers who prefer their fashion with a little less social commentary will have the option of visiting “What You Stand In,” an area of the site where they will be able watch a series of shop-able style guide videos hosted by editors from GQ and Vogue TV.  The videos will feature specific men’s and women’s trends styled by the two editors, and then consumers will be asked to vote and comment  on which looks they like best, and on what Fall trends they prefer.   “Over the years I’ve used my brand platform to raise awareness about vital social issues to remind people that it’s not just what they look like on the outside, but who they are on the inside; and not just what they stand in, but what they stand for,” says Kenneth Cole.  “When I first started out, the means of communicating we have today didn’t exist.  So in this new age of social media, I wanted to use this campaign to re-energize a debate with customers and like minded individuals around certain provocative, and at the same time, defining social issues.”   The campaign, which was shot for the fourth consecutive season by Oscar nominated film director, Sean Ellis, was photographed on location in New York City and will feature super model Angela Lindvhal and Casey Taylor.  In order to emphasize the importance of the social issues depicted in the campaign, the imagery has been shot in black and white against an architectural environment.  The campaign, which will debut in September issues, will also include wild postings throughout New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Miami.   To see more on the campaign visit WhereDoYouStand.com.   About Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc.: Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. designs, sources and markets a broad range of footwear, handbags, apparel and accessories under the brand names Kenneth Cole New York, Kenneth Cole Reaction, Unlisted and Le Tigre, as well as footwear under the proprietary trademark Gentle Souls. The Company has also granted a wide variety of third party licenses for the production of men's, women's and children's apparel as well as fragrances, watches, jewelry, eyewear and several other accessory categories. The Company's products are distributed through department stores, better specialty stores, company-owned retail stores and its e-commerce website. Further information can be found at http://www.kennethcole.com.
   Press Contact:  Lisa Hellman VP Public Relations & Special Events 212.830.6863 lhellman@kennethcole.com