By Phillip D. Johnson
Fashion Designer and social activist, Kenneth Cole, is partnering with the Tony Award winning musical, Kinky Boots, on the launch of a limited-edition capsule shoe collection. Arriving in stores this holiday season, 100% of net profits from the sale of the shoes will be donated to AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation in support of the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). Following consultation with Kinky Boots costume designer, Gregg Barnes, Kenneth Cole has also designed the red high heel pump featured in the opening act of the show.
Inspired by a true story and based on the Miramax motion picture written by Geoff Deane and Tim Firth, in Kinky Boots, Charlie Price has suddenly inherited his father’s shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father’s legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola. A fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos, Lola turns out to be the one person who can help Charlie become the man he’s meant to be. As they work to turn the factory around, this unlikely pair finds that they have more in common than they ever dreamed possible… and discovers that when you change your mind about someone, you can change your whole world.
With a Tony Award-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, a book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots opened on Broadway on April 4, 2013 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it continues to play to standing-room-only crowds. Kinky Boots took home six 2013 Tony® Awards, the most of any show this season, including Best Musical, Best Score (Cyndi Lauper), Best Choreography (Jerry Mitchell), Best Actor (Billy Porter), Best Orchestrations (Stephen Oremus), and Best Sound Design (John Shivers). The show also received the Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Broadway.com Awards for Best Musical, along with many other accolades.
The collection features three styles: a red patent leather peep-toe pump (also available in different color ways), as well as two versions of a knee-high boot – one in black and white leopard, and one in black patent — both with red zipper detailing, and a red patent leather insole and heel. All three styles will feature a “Kinky Boots by Kenneth Cole” logo embossed on the sole. The Kinky Boots collection will retail from $150-$400 and will be sold at Kenneth Cole stores, www.Kennethcole.com, as well as select department stores in December.
“Being the son of a women’s shoe factory owner, Kinky Boots resonated with me on so many different levels,” said Kenneth Cole. “It was such an inspiring story, I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to collaborate on a shoe collection that makes people look good, and do good by raising funds for HRC.”
AWEARNESS, The Kenneth Cole Foundation promotes, encourages and inspires meaningful social change, and supports like-minded Change Agents and organizations to make a difference. The foundation also sell products and host events in support of their important causes. As part of each partnership, an AWEARNESS “Change Agent” is selected, and their story of social activism is highlighted to inspire others to get involved. These interviews and products can be seen on the AWEARNESS website www.awearness.com.
To support the collaboration, a designated area in front of the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street), will encourage passersby to try and win a pair of Kinky Boots tickets by following @kennethcoleprd and @kinkybootsbway and Instagraming a photo of their “kinky” shoes using #KCKinkyboots.
Additionally, a 20% shopping discount will be extended to any customer presenting a Kinky Boots ticket stub at Kenneth Cole stores nationwide. Finally, the brand will dedicate its West Side Highway billboard during the month of October to the Kinky Boots collaboration.
Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc. designs, sources and markets a broad range of footwear, handbags, apparel and accessories under the brand names Kenneth Cole, Kenneth Cole Reaction, and Unlisted, as well as footwear under the proprietary trademark Gentle Souls. The Company has also granted a wide variety of third party licenses for the production of men’s and women’s apparel, as well as fragrances, watches, jewelry, eyewear and several other accessory categories. The Company’s products are distributed through department stores, better specialty stores, company-owned retail stores and its e-commerce website. Further information can be found at www.kennethcole.com.