Stay Classy, Kenneth Cole
“Walking around SOMA, we find this little gem. Stay classy Kennith Cole.” [via Flickr]
Earlier today, Kenneth Cole twatted, “Millions are in uproar in #Cairo. Rumor is they heard our new spring collection is now available online at http://bit.ly/KCairo -KC.” After a massive Twitter outcry, Cole hastily scrubbed the tweet and attempted to backpedal. “I’ve dedicated my life to raising awareness about serious social issues,” claimed the designer in a two-sentence apology on Facebook, admitting that posting the tweet as unarmed protesters in Cairo were getting shot was, perhaps, “poorly timed.”
However, this morning at 2 AM, San Francisco residents spotted this mysterious and super professional-looking decal on the window of Kenneth Cole’s SOMA location.
Are any Coilhouse readers in other cities perhaps encountering similar window displays at Kenneth Cole store locations? If so, please send pictures. We will gladly update this post with images of Kenneth Cole storefronts from around the US.
February 4th, 2011 at 4:19 am
I heard about this and thought, how in the world could this statement have been *well* timed?
Beyond crass and desperate marketing. The store employees should take it in their own hands, and take the signs down themselves… unless of course KC’s target audience for the line is a niche audience of people with absolutely no scruples, social awareness or compassion :/
February 4th, 2011 at 8:00 am
Poor taste, KC.
February 4th, 2011 at 10:47 am
That gets a big “EEEW” from me.
February 4th, 2011 at 11:00 am
[…] featuring the tweet in question to the window of Kenneth Cole’s SOMA location.According to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 11:10 am
[…] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 11:34 am
[…] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 12:06 pm
People are offended too easily. It’s a harmless joke. ”No one was hurt in the making of this tweet.” It could not have been more perfectly timed. And why not make light out of a serious situation? Comedy helps to relieve some of the stress of reality.
February 4th, 2011 at 12:14 pm
[…] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 12:40 pm
[…] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 1:30 pm
[…] Huffington Post and other blogs and magazines. First it went viral, which is bad, then it went analog, which is arguably worse. Look what’s been popping up on the windows of KC outlets (another […]
February 4th, 2011 at 2:07 pm
[…] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 2:32 pm
Maybe he should have gone in another direction with this, like:
“Whether you need good arch support for a day of dodging whips or a shoe for throwing that’s always on target, Kenneth Cole Reaction is #1.”
February 4th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
I wonder if he could hook me up with a good catalog printer:
THE KENNETH COLE / EGYPT CATALOG
http://jmansays.tumblr.com/post/3096487235/the-kenneth-cole-egypt-catalog
February 4th, 2011 at 5:36 pm
[…] to Coilhouse, the cling appeared on the store window at 2 a.m. today. We called the store to confirm, but the […]
February 4th, 2011 at 8:53 pm
I want to buy whoever produced that decal a drink.
Hell, I’ll buy them a damn bottle.
February 5th, 2011 at 10:28 am
Let’s all focus on how offended we are by this so we don’t need to encourage any real activism. This does not deserve attention.
February 5th, 2011 at 1:43 pm
@Ted: “And why not make light out of a serious situation? ”
Are you confusing “light” with “money” perhaps?
February 5th, 2011 at 1:47 pm
i cant help but laugh.
February 5th, 2011 at 3:55 pm
“This does not deserve attention.”
Rachel, I completely disagree. I think that playful, thought-provoking guerilla art like this is quite a real and effective form of activism, and will always be worth Coilhouse’s attention.
February 5th, 2011 at 6:31 pm
I love thought-provoking guerilla art of any sort. I just saw this as an attack against Kenneth Cole. Would love to see a piece on more art like this.
February 6th, 2011 at 8:32 am
Good taste is the enemy of creativity. Regardless of the intention or backlash, they got a ton of free publicity from this.
February 6th, 2011 at 12:26 pm
Heh… The most creative act that’s occurred here is the backlash. (This particular instance of it, at least)
February 8th, 2011 at 1:48 am
People. I swear. Out of curiosity, is that decal considered vandalism?
February 8th, 2011 at 6:39 am
[…] — and some clever individual took it upon himself/herself to repost the tweet in real life on the window of one of Kenneth Cole’s San Francisco storefronts. Props for keeping it looking like the rest of the window text. My life in sneakers and […]
February 18th, 2011 at 12:00 pm
[…] Then the meme evolved overnight from digital to real world street art sticker prank: coilhouse.net/2011/02/stay-classy-kenneth-cole […]
August 10th, 2011 at 11:40 pm
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October 29th, 2011 at 8:47 pm
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December 14th, 2011 at 4:47 am
[…] coilhouse.net/2011/02/pause-classy-kenneth-cole/ http://www.boingboing.net/2011/02/04/egypt-kenneth-coles.html […]