ABOUT THE FILM

LOGLINE

With heart & “sole” and unflinching determination, global fashion icon and activist Kenneth Cole has for 40 years put “cause” before “commerce,” igniting social awareness and change, giving voice to the voiceless, defying and shattering stigmas, and inspiring and empower action for good.

LONG SYNOPSIS

With heart & “sole” and unflinching determination, Kenneth Cole and his global fashion company have for 40 years put “cause” before “commerce,” igniting social awareness and change. Kenneth’s commitments to AIDS, homelessness, LGBTQIA+ rights, civil liberties, social justice, and now, mental health, have given voice to the voiceless, defied and shattered stigmas, provoked conversation, built coalitions, and inspired and empowered action for good.

But back in the 1980s, when Kenneth launched his shoe business, corporate social action was anything but business as usual. Only a small fraction of companies had made any social impact commitment whatsoever and no company had aligned their business with the terrifying “gay plague.”

With HIV/AIDS ravaging the gay community, Kenneth Cole was losing dear friends to the disease. The world refused to acknowledge what was happening. The silence was deafening. Though many felt the association with AIDS could capsize his new business, Kenneth refused to look the other way. Rather, he used his platform to launch an “anti-stigma” campaign to shatter the silence and prompt productive engagement.

KENNETH COLE: A MAN WITH SOLE captures the deeply purposeful story of Kenneth Cole to establish its social impact-driven ethos, while building a successful global fashion brand. Fusing cause and commerce early on, Kenneth created a new inventive and daring advertising style that became a global phenomenon. The pioneering ads were culturally relevant, deliberately cause-ridden, and less about the product than about the values of the people who wished to wear the Kenneth Cole brand. The ads were (and are) incredibly humorous, often audacious, frequently controversial, and always purpose-driven. They gave voice to urgent issues such as AIDS, human rights, homelessness, social justice and gun control. Kenneth has always believed that respectful controversy is necessary for positive social change.

While fighting for positive social change, Kenneth’s business became a formidable global brand, going public in 1994. Ultimately, the obligation to shareholders to achieve greater profit margins year after year, became increasing onerous…interfering greatly with Kenneth’s commitment to social impact. In 2012, Kenneth bought back his own company and restructured his business, re-establishing the cause/commerce balance.

Director Dori Berinstein

Producer Dori Berinstein

Executive Producers Geralyn White Dreyfous, Regina K. Scully, Ryan Harrington

Editor Elisa Bonora

FESTIVALS
2024: Hamptons International, DOC NYC

AWARDS
Impact Award, Special Catalyst Award for Kenneth Cole (Boulder International)

AVAILABLE TERRITORIES
The World

EXHIBITION FORMATS
DCP, Digital Download