Kenneth Cole Introduces New Women’s Collection at Party at New York Headquarters

Friends and family came out Tuesday night to celebrate Kenneth Cole New York’s new women’s apparel collection and advertising campaign featuring Academy Award-winning actress Ariana DeBose.

“She has truly brought the collection to life and captured the essence and the values of our brand in every possible way with her beauty, her values and her heart,” said Emily Cole, executive vice president, women’s creative director and product strategy, at Kenneth Cole Productions.

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DeBose said it was an honor to be partnered with Kenneth Cole Productions. “I cannot tell you how special I thought it was to suddenly get a phone call from Kenneth Cole. I am someone who worked very hard for 10 years to find an opportunity like the one that found me with ‘West Side Story,’ and that opened up so many doors that I never could have dreamt of,” she said.

Ariana DeBose
Ariana DeBose

For the ad campaign entitled “United We Stand,” DeBose was photographed by Cass Bird. The campaign encourages women to use their voices and keep up the momentum in the fight for change and equality, as reported.

The new collection, which Kenneth Cole called a “rebirth,” is licensed to The Kasper Group, a wholly owned subsidiary of Premier Brands Group Holdings.

Ariana DeBose for Kenneth Cole womenswear
Ariana DeBose for Kennrth Cole womenswear.

DeBose used the opportunity Tuesday night to encourage everyone at the party to vote. “This election, this moment has never been more important. We say it every year but this the most important election of our lifetime, but now is the moment,” she said. She encouraged everyone to make a voting plan.

Cole, whose company has partnered with I Am A Voter, brought in a little voting booth, which they refer to as “the room where it happens,” and set up an iPad so people could register to vote.

The voting booth.
The voting booth.

Cole was fresh off the world premiere of the documentary, “A Man With Sole: The Impact of Kenneth Cole,” at the Hamptons International Film Festival last Saturday. The film is directed by Dori Berinstein.

He told the crowd that he’s very excited that Emily Cole has joined the firm in a creative role and also brings her interest in social impact. In fact, on Wednesday, Emily Cole is launching her own women’s reproductive health campaign.

Some of the looks from the women's collection.
Some of the looks from the women’s collection.

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