Kenneth Cole

Fashion Designer KENNETH COLE founded his company, Kenneth Cole Productions, with the debut of a ladies' footwear collection in December of 1982. Today, the company manufactures internationally and distributes men's and women's footwear, accessories and clothing under the Kenneth Cole, Reaction, and unlisted.com labels, as well as offering over 30 product categories. Every year since Kenneth Cole Productions went public in June of 1994, Kenneth Cole Productions has been on Forbes' annual list of the World's 200 Best Small Companies in America. In addition, each year as a public company, Kenneth Cole Productions is named on Business Week's list of Top Hot Growth Companies. Known mainly for its shoes, Kenneth Cole Productions also makes stylish clothing and accessories under three brands: Kenneth Cole New York, Reaction Kenneth Cole, and Unlisted. It also licenses the name to products such as hosiery, luggage, watches, and eyewear. Kenneth Cole continues to expand, adding new lines for women and children and a men's and women's fragrance. More than 4,500 department and specialty stores carry its products. Kenneth Cole also operates about 80 retail and outlet stores, a catalog, and a Web site. CEO Kenneth Cole owns 45% of the company and controls almost all of the voting rights.