H&M to Meet with PETA After NYFW Runway Scuffle

H&M executives are scheduled to meet with PETA, the animal rights organization, after an incident at a New York Fashion Week runway show where a protester was restrained by a COS managing director. The confrontation occurred during a COS runway show on Sunday.

COS managing director Daniel Hermann was seen assisting Steven Kolb, chief executive of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), in restraining a PETA protester who had disrupted the show. Video footage shows Hermann holding the protester's arm as Kolb pulled her down and covered her mouth to stifle her shouts about the wool industry.

PETA has formally requested a meeting with Hermann and H&M, stating that while legal action is a consideration, their primary goal is to present their findings on the wool industry. "We acknowledge the concerns PETA continues to raise regarding wool and animal welfare and welcome the opportunity to discuss this directly," H&M said in a statement.

The fashion label issued an apology, stating, "The incident at the show should have been prevented from escalating and that is why we are reviewing what happened with the teams involved. We are deeply sorry for what our guests, participants, and viewers of the show experienced."

H&M added that the company has maintained an ongoing dialogue with PETA for years and remains open to continuing that conversation. The company stated that the wool used in its brands is either certified by Textile Exchange's Responsible Wool Standard or sourced from certified recycled materials. H&M Group has indicated it shares concerns about PETA's allegations and is in close contact with Textile Exchange.

Kolb has since apologized for his actions and announced a voluntary leave of absence from the CFDA. He expressed hope to "apologize in person to the two individuals who did not deserve that treatment."

PETA stated that its protesters aim to disrupt events peacefully and that the response they encountered was "shocking." The organization's letter to Hermann highlighted its undercover investigations of the wool industry, which it claims documented instances of mistreatment of sheep. PETA has indicated it had six activists present at the COS show.

COS claims its collections are produced with a mindful approach, a message PETA argued is difficult to reconcile with the events that transpired. The organization's investigations into the wool industry have reportedly included infiltrations of farms across continents. PETA has previously targeted other fashion brands and individuals over animal welfare concerns, including an investigation into a sheep farm in New Zealand reportedly owned by former television anchor Matt Lauer.