EXCLUSIVE: Kenneth Cole and Marc Fisher Talk Debut Men’s Shoe Collection
- Stephen Garner
- Aug 13
- 3 min read
The line will be released on August 14.
Kenneth Cole and Marc Fisher photographed on Aug. 6, 2025 in New York, New York. George Chinsee
One year after announcing their long-term partnership, Kenneth Cole’s first men’s footwear collection with Marc Fisher Footwear Company is here.
The venture, which was first announced in August 2024, introduces a fresh design perspective for the brand’s popular men’s category that elevates core styles from Kenneth Cole through modern craftsmanship and construction as well as versatility.
As part of the new partnership, Marc Fisher Footwear Company is now responsible for the development, sourcing, production and sales of all Kenneth Cole men’s dress and casual footwear under the Kenneth Cole New York and Kenneth Cole Reaction labels.
For Kenneth Cole, chairman and chief creative officer at Kenneth Cole Productions, Inc., the decision to enlist Marc Fisher for his new men’s shoe line was “not a hard choice.”
“I’ve been in the shoe business most of my professional life, and my family had been in the business, as has Marc’s family. It’s great to partner with Marc,” Cole told FN in an exclusive interview. “We work well together, we listen to each other’s feedback, and we figure out how to make things on-trend and at the same time commercial so that this business model works for the both of us. So, we’ve worked at that together, and the business is good, and it’s going to keep getting better.”
A shoe from Kenneth Cole’s fall 2025 collection. Courtesy Photo
Marc Fisher, founder of Marc Fisher Footwear, echoed Cole’s sentiment, adding that partnering with a veteran who “has a lot of knowledge about the footwear industry” is a solid opportunity.
“In my job, I work with lots of different people, and some try to know a lot about the footwear business. Some want to know a lot. Some think they know a lot. And unfortunately for me, they don’t know too much,” Fisher said. “So it’s really a pleasure when Kenneth comes to my office and sits and talks. He has a great perspective and a great point of view. He has tremendous experience in the men’s footwear business.”
Looking closer at the new men’s line, legacy styles like The Tully Cap Toe Oxford feature a cushioned footbed, shock-absorbent gel, and concealed elastic gore that allows for slip-on access while maintaining a tailored lace-up profile. Plus, the Futurepod Oxford have been reimagined in premium leather and features a triple-layer cushioning midsole with molded arch support, memory foam, and a high-recovery gel pod.
A shoe from Kenneth Cole’s fall 2025 collection. Courtesy Photo
Additional dress silhouettes include a leather shoe featuring a classic double monk design and smart cap toe, and a lace-up derby, a minimalist staple made from suede with tonal laces and a cushioned removable insole.
The collection also expands into sneakers and casual silhouettes. Lightweight and sport-inspired options feature streamlined profiles with cushioned insoles, stretch details, and flexible construction.
And, casual loafers introduce classic moc styling, all-day comfort, and removable insoles.
A shoe from Kenneth Cole’s fall 2025 collection. Courtesy Photo
According to Fisher, the new line, at its core, is rooted in modern function. From impact-absorbing midsoles to slip-on innovation and anti-slip traction, the fall footwear collection aims to redefine what men expect from their dress and everyday shoes.
“Consumers want comfort, but at the same time, something that feels fashionable and contemporary,” Fisher maintained. “And I think it’s all of those buzz words. And they need a great value, right? Because everyone, everyone’s struggling to pay for everything these days. So, ultimately, we are trying to give the customers the right value, while also making sure they are excited when they buy the shoes.”
Cole played up the multi-use purpose of the collection. “Consumers want something they can wear seven days a week for multiple purposes,” Cole noted. “That’s where the value equation comes into play. This new line is giving them what they want, but not quite how they expect it, adding some elements of intrigue and function, of purpose, of comfort and so on. We try to engineer that into whatever we do to the degree where it makes sense.”
The Kenneth Cole fall 2025 men’s footwear collection, which retails between $130 and $200 for the Kenneth Cole New York line and $89 and $110 for the Kenneth Cole Reaction range, will be available on Aug. 14 at KennethCole.com and at select like Nordstrom, Macy’s, Belk, and Amazon.
A shoe from Kenneth Cole’s fall 2025 collection. Courtesy Photo
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