Fashion icon Kenneth Cole shows his humanitarian side in Thailand
Written by Writer on Tuesday, October 28th, 2008
NEWS Makers
De la soul
Fashion icon Kenneth Cole shows his humanitarian side in Thailand
YANAPON MUSIKET
Kenneth Cole
It wasn’t for the sake of fashion week or a shopping complex grand opening that made Kenneth Cole, New Yorker, fashion designer and founder of Kenneth Cole Productions Inc., decide to visit the Land of Smiles. But it was his concern towards the rising number of HIV/Aids infected people in Asia that lead him to embark on an extended trip across the world.
Once named as the world’s sexiest businessman by People magazine, Cole appeared warm and charming during the exclusive interview with selected Thai media. “I apologise for the very early interview but I have to leave soon this afternoon to Chiang Mai,” said Cole, fresh after having just arrived the night before.
Despite achieving fame for his stylish clothes and accessories, Cole also serves as chairman of the board for the American Foundation for Aids Research (amfAR). Last week, from October 17 to 20, Cole visited Thailand for the first time to participate in the 8th annual network meeting of Therapeutics Research, Education, and Aids Training in Asia (Treat Asia). This project has been facilitated by amfAR in order to empower HIV/Aids care, treatment, and management skills among health care professionals through education and training programmes developed by experts in Asia and the Pacific region. Cole explained that the four-day meeting would comprise project-specific workshops and updates from Treat Asia research, education and community projects, as well as discussions about future directions and efforts.
“This disease is not yet curable and it’s still taking many lives of people in the world, day by day. I simply cannot sit by and tolerate this phenomenon,” responded Cole when asked for the reason he became publicly involved with this particular issue. Since 1987, Cole is the first person from the fashion world who has continuously engaged his business to raise awareness of social issues, especially his outspokenly support of Aids awareness and research, where Cole has participated as a contributor for amfAR.
With his strong commitment to the organisation, Cole was later honoured in 2004 as the chairman of the board of amfAR. A year after, his launching of the bold and poignant campaign “We All Have Aids” during World Aids Day in 2005, made him the talk of the town.
“I designed T-shirts with the printed slogan, ‘We All Have Aids’, which both people who live with or without HIV/Aids could wear. We did an amazing ad campaign where well-known figures and celebrities joined together in one photograph. It is the statement to end of this pandemic stigma, as we are all affected from this virus either physically or spiritually,”explained the 54-year-old designer and humanitarian.
“The project managed to raise billions of dollars from this campaign,”he added.
This year, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of his revered fashion house, Kenneth Cole has launched his latest campaign, “We All Walk in Different Shoes.” As a man who believes in the value of difference and diversity, Kenneth Cole created a provocative fashion campaign by replacing stereotypical models with bold, unexpected people of substance who have a point of difference and who live their lives in a non-uniform way.
To represent the idea of “non-uniformity”, the ad campaign of Kenneth Cole New York Fall 2008 collection features one-of-a-kind models who possess unique characteristics - for example, a transgender actress, albino African-American women and even a punk evangelist pastor.
“The idea is to dispel social prejudice and celebrate diversity,”Cole remarked.
Before the last minute of the interview, Cole introduced his latest project, http://www.awearnessblog.com/, an online forum for public debate about social issues, that is contributed to by prominent figures from the media, arts and entertainment industries. Readers and visitors to the blog are encouraged to interact with the contributors by creating an ongoing dialogue, sharing ideas and thoughts for a better world. As Cole once said, “It is great to be known for your shoes. It is even better to be recognised for your soul.” Recently, both his soul and shoes were recognised when Owen Bethel, president of Mode Iles Ltd and founder and organiser of Islands of the World Fashion Week, announced last month that a humanitarian designer award will be presented to Kenneth Cole and Kenneth Cole Productions Inc. this year. Congratulations Kenneth Cole!
Bangkok Post
Tuesday October 28, 2008
