In 2016, Kenneth Cole Productions launched the Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Award, a year-long mentorship program that allows selected fellows to gain insight and hands-on work experience across all KCP departments. Blake Felty and Kara Kroeger were chosen as the inaugural fellows. Tasked with design challenges and business-development projects, the program also aimed to help them discover the impact that design can have on social issues, a concept that has been long part of the Kenneth Cole brand ethos. Cole said that this was a key aspect of the overall program. “The Kenneth Cole Footwear Innovation Award has allowed me to mentor Blake and Kara on footwear design as well as on innovation and social consciousness,” he noted. “I hope that they have learned that it is possible to make a more meaningful connection with people by addressing not just what they stand in, but what they stand for, aspiring to help everyone, everywhere look good, for good.”

“The best part was that in just a year I got to experience so many facets of the company,” said Felty. Kroeger agreed, adding that “It was amazing to learn all the different aspects and rotate through every department.”

This unique program set-up is what Sara Kozlowski, Director of Education and Professional Development at CFDA called “hands on immersive learning” and “education in action which simply can’t happen within the walls of a traditional classroom.”

As their fellowship term comes to a close this fall, we celebrated their success and their new footwear designs at an intimate gathering at the Kenneth Cole Bowery store. CFDA CEO and President Steven Kolb called Mr. Cole “a true fashion role model and proponent of fashion education.”

As the two fellows make their exit from Kenneth Cole Productions, they were kind enough to lend a word of advice to whoever fills their shoes in the new upcoming fellowship term. “Give it your all. Get as much as you possibly can,” said Kroeger. “Take advantage of asking a lot of questions,” added Felty. “Admit that you don’t know something because that’s when you learn the most.”