Cole Denies Discrimination Charges

May 24th, 2005
By Suzanne Kapner
NY Post

Kenneth Cole Productions denied discriminating against a former employee who has alleged in a lawsuit filed on Friday that she was sexually and racially harassed while working for the company.

"Kenneth Cole Productions takes claims of this nature seriously," the company said in a prepared statement.

"The company is strongly committed to diversity in the workplace and to providing a safe and supportive work atmosphere for all its employees."

Min Kou Chenette, who worked for Kenneth Cole for a year beginning in August 2003, painted a picture of a corporate environment where racial and sexual slurs were common.

Chenette says she was passed over for promotions when she complained about the situation, according to the lawsuit.

"The company denies discriminating against, harassing or retaliating against Ms. Chenette," the statement continued, and plans to "defend itself from these baseless allegations."

Designer Kenneth Cole has made a name for himself with clever marketing that plays up the company's enlightened outlook, using slogans like "To be aware is more important than what you wear" to help sell his clothes.

Chenette's lawyer, Mark Schwartz, said that there is a "disconnect between the company's image of enlightened corporate citizenship and reality.