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Kenneth Cole
why we like him?
The man behind the stylish brand of menswear and apparel is more than just a designer. Kenneth Cole is a fashion icon, bringing haute couture to the common man. What's more, he is the anti-Calvin Klein, a guy who remains in the background and lets his designs, as well as his controversial, socially-driven ad campaigns, speak for themselves.
why is he famous?
After establishing the Kenneth Cole name as a prime designer of women's shoes, Cole branched out into women's wear, menswear, accessories, and even jewelry. With his clothing described as "Prada for the people," he brought simple yet chic styles like black wool three-button suits, slick loafers and subtle ties to the workingman. Cole is also known for his socially conscious brand of marketing, as he often pairs clothing ads with charitable messages dealing with causes like AIDS and homelessness.
overall rating
86
Forget whatever misconceptions you have about fashion designers running around in outlandish outfits directing supermodels behind the catwalk. Kenneth Cole represents none of the flakiness of the industry -- he is an admirable businessman, a creative force and a heck of a crafty entrepreneur.
quote
"You know, I am very lucky because I am the customer. I haven't created a life for myself to jump-start a business. To be successful, you really have to put yourself in the customer's shoes -- what they're thinking, feeling, what motivates them, inspires them. And the customer has enabled me to create a product that's very much me." -Kenneth Cole
bio
A middle-class New Yorker born in the late 1950s, Kenneth Cole grew up amid the fashion business. His father, Charlie Cole, was the owner of El Greco, a Brooklyn-based shoe manufacturer whose biggest achievement was creating the Candie's line of women's footwear. Despite being in this atmosphere, Kenneth was not drawn to the family business and escaped to Emory University in Atlanta, intending to study law.
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