New York Fashion Week experienced a disruption on Sunday when protesters from the animal rights group PETA interrupted the COS fall-winter 2026 collection runway show. Protesters carrying placards chanted against the brand, which is owned by the retailer H&M.
During the incident, Steven Kolb, CEO and President of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), physically restrained two of the activists. Videos circulating online show Kolb pushing a male protester away from the catwalk and covering his mouth before security escorted the individual out. Kolb also intervened with a female protester who was vocalizing opposition to the use of wool. He reportedly grabbed her arms, pushed her to the floor, and held her down.
Mason Melito, identified as a senior campaigner with PETA by The New York Times, stated he was not physically harmed but found the encounter shocking. He indicated that PETA intends to file a police report against Kolb.
Despite the interruption, models continued the show, and attendees, reportedly including Sharon Stone, Michelle Williams, and Lupita Nyong'o, documented the event on their phones.
Kolb issued a statement via Instagram acknowledging his actions. "I reacted inappropriately to an incident at a show earlier today. It wasn't my place to do so. I should have let the security team handle the situation," he wrote.
PETA responded to Kolb's actions, stating that his aggressive reaction endorsed their concerns about violence within the fashion industry. The organization also indicated a desire to meet with Kolb and present evidence from their investigations into the wool industry, which they claim shows mistreatment of sheep.
Kolb was reportedly scheduled to attend Brandon Maxwell's runway show but opted not to, according to CNN.
The incident occurred during the COS show as models presented the fall-winter 2026 collection. The disruption drew attention from attendees and online observers, highlighting ongoing tensions between animal rights activism and the fashion industry.