CFDA Director Steven Kolb Kicks Off Fashion Week. Collects Pixies and Pyrex on eBay.

By Stephen Watson
September 9, 2010

As the Executive Director for the Council of Fashion Designers of America, Steven Kolb has the enviable but daunting task of helping oversee a very diverse association of more than 350 of Americaʼs foremost fashion, jewelry, and accessories designers.

The CFDA is a non-for-profit trade organization that works to promote the American Fashion industry both here in the United States and around the world. Its annual awards presentation celebrates the country's most renowned designers and has helped catapult the careers of designers like Kate and Laura Mulleavy for Rodarte, Jason Wu and Alexander Wang by bestowing on them the coveted Swarovski award for emerging designers. Off the red carpet, the CFDA partners with the design community to unite the industry behind common goals in philanthropy, education and business development. A major initiative this year has been its work with the office of New York Senator Schumer on the ʻDesign Piracy Prohibition Act,' which would help designers protect their creations from plagiarism.

With Fashion Week kicking off today and Fashion's Night Out, a celebration marked by events and parties at retailers in New York and around the world, tomorrow, Kolb will be in a mad dash around town. His mission: to scout new CFDA members and support current ones, Tweeting all the while. At night, perhaps the avid collector will kick back with a large glass of water and a browse on eBay for Japanese ceramic pixies and vintage Pyrex—the trinkets he is currently obsessing over.

The Inside Source: I read online that you cover over 60 fashion shows and presentations each season. How do manage to find the time? How do you decompress from the stress of all the shows?

Steven Kolb: It is a tight schedule but I want to support all the CFDA members showing and it is also a good time to scout for prospective new members. Fashion Week is work for me and going to shows is part of my job. The last few seasons, I have been posting photos in real time on Facebook from the shows and this season I am going to continue but tweet too. I never have my Blackberry out of hand, so I am able to keep up between shows via email and phone. I get a lot of rest at night. I typically don’t go to parties or events. The right amount of sleep, lots of water and not breaking from my workout keeps me going.

TIS: Since you get to view so many collections, any predictions on what we might be seeing during the Spring/Summer 11 Fashion week? Anything you hope to see? Any young designers on the radar to look out for?

SK: I think there is some excellent new talent in the CFDA Fashion Incubator, which is a new program we launched with Mayor Bloomberg in partnership with New York City Economic Development Corporation (NYCEDC) and Newmark Holdings. It is providing a creative professional environment to foster promising fashion talent and is helping designers grow and sustain their businesses. We provide low-cost design studio space, business mentoring, educational seminars and networking opportunities. The group is amazing mix of women's, men's, accessories and jewelry. The designers are Alice Ritter, Bibhu Mohapatra, Gemma Redux, Grey Ant, Waris Ahluwalia, Jolibe, Prabal Gurung, Ruby kobo, Public School, Justin Giunta, Tom Scott and Sang A.

TIS: This year, Fashion’s Night Out has so many cool things planned. How will you be spending the evening?

SK: There are over 1,000 participating retailers in FNO, which are all listed at fashionsnightout.com, along with the specific details of what they are doing that night. Here is what I plan to do: Barneys for a game of ping pong against Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen; Calvin Klein Collection for the Bryan Adams photo exhibit; Bergdorf Goodman for the dog fashion show; Saks for the “ultimate rockin’ party." [I'll] stop in and see CFDA President Diane von Furstenberg in the Meatpacking District and then eat from Shake Shack in Tory Burch’s Meatpacking shop, swing by Mercer Street for the Rag & Bone and 3.1 Phillip Lim Block Party and [finish] at the Opening Ceremony Flea Market. This year, we expanded the FNO merchandise with a women's and men's tee, a tank, a long sleeve tee, a hoodie and a tote bag. 40 percent of the proceeds benefits the NYC AIDS Fund in the NY Community trust, plus QVC will be broadcasting live from Rockefeller Center and selling their own exclusive FNO tee to benefit CFDA’s Fashion Targets Breast Cancer.

TIS: You have to work alongside many of the top leaders in fashion in many different capacities, from education to politics to philanthropy. Have any tips for guys on how to dress appropriately for work, but also to still look cool and not stiff?

SK:I think men look best in a solid, dark color, clean-lined suit. My favorite suit of the moment is bespoke Rag & Bone in black. It has these great gold buttons which are unexpected and understated. It is perfect for any occasion. I am really in to pairing suits with white crisp shirts. To add your own personality I think there is nothing cooler than a narrow width, colorful print tie and my favorite ones are from Band of Outsiders. Most important are shoes. Don’t do the expected. I like to wear Esquivel. They are classic leather shoes, but featuring modern-day detailing and coloring. I also like Duckie Brown for Florsheim; a great pairing of a 100 year old brand with one of the best menswear designers of today.

TIS: The terrific CFDA book American Fashion: Menswear came out last year. Are there any new titles planned that you can talk about?

SK: American Fashion: Menswear was our 6th book in the bestselling American Fashion Series. Just out in bookstores now is American Fashion: Designers at Home, which is an insider tour of the personal spaces of more than 100 CFDA members. You really get to see their creativity on a different level. The book has many great shots. Two of my favorites our Carolina Herrera’s 1850s townhouse and Lela Rose’s industrial loft. We are working on a travel guide now with tips, favorite places and things to see along with personal photos and stories compiled from CFDA members.

TIS: Many fashion designers seem to use eBay as a research tool for getting inspiration and doing research. Is there anything that you collect on the site? Any good eBay stories?

SK: I’ve been using eBay for ten years and have been through many collections over time. Right now, I am obsessed with 1970’s ceramic pixies from Japan and vintage Pyrex with the green “Crazy Daisy” pattern. I also collect owls and have my sights on The Golden Book of Biology, which was beautifully illustrated by Charley Harper and came out in 1967 It is hard to find though, and a bit pricey!