| Detroit-born
Kevan Hall's fashion creativity emerged early. By the age of seven,
he knew he wanted to be a fashion designer. After attending Cass
Technical High School in Detroit, where he studied fashion design,
he won first place as "Designer of Tomorrow" - a scholarship
sponsored by the Los Angeles-based Fashion Institute of Design and
Merchandising. While studying in California, he made a vision-enhancing
trip to Europe, where at the houses of Cardin, Dior and most notably,
Givenchy his lifelong love of luxury and haute couture was once
again sparked. Upon graduation from the Fashion Institute, he received
the Peacock Award for “Outstanding Fashion Design".
In
1982, Hall with his wife and partner, Deborah launched Kevan Hall
Couture. His collection melded a more relaxed couture look with
sensible pricing that pleased retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman
Marcus, I. Magnin and other fine stores nationwide.
Hall
was nominated in 1988 by fashion retailers and the press as one
of California’s Top Designers. In 1989, he was not only included
in the “Soul on Seventh Avenue” show sponsored by Fairchild
Publications, but was also chosen by the NAACP to receive their
“Great American Designer” award. In 1990, his participation
in the national Absolut Vodka campaign featured in Vanity Fair underscored
his broad-based appeal. In 1992, he was honored by the Center of
Performing Arts in Southern California with a 10-year fashion retrospective.
For many, this would be a career capper. For Hall, it was only a
stepping stone as he branched out into motion pictures, acting as
costume consultant on 1997’s “Gridlock” and “Eve’s
Bayou” (the most successful independent film of the year).
Redefining
glamour for a new generation is an interpretive art. Redefining
the hallowed house of Halston into the next millennium was an even
more challenging task. But Kevan Hall--who stepped into the prestigious
position of Design and Creative Director from fall 1998 - spring
2000 revived the dormant brand to its former glory. His sleek eveningwear
was worn by a distinguished coterie of celebrated artists- including
Celine Dion, Sharon Stone, Angela Bassett, Charlize Theron, and
Salma Hayek.
In
2002, he launched his own signature, Kevan Hall Collection with
a fashion philosophy that emphasizes purity of style, incomparable
tailoring and sensuously draped streamlined silhouettes; Hall has
a natural design sense of sophisticated elegance and uncluttered
modern design. Hall’s designs have been embraced by fashion
retailers and the press. In 2001, Absolut Vodka honored Hall by
showcasing his spring collection in their “Tribute to African
Designers” worldwide tour. His lovely atelier in Los Angeles
was featured in the July 2002 issue of Interior Design magazine.
It confirmed his keen eye for design and impeccable color sense.
Also in 2002, Hall won the 47th Annual Gold Coast Fashion Award
in Chicago as “Designer of the Year”. In 2005, Hall
was awarded “Stylemaker of the Year” by Life & Style
Magazine for his ‘drop-dead glamour’ as seen on the
red carpet with Felicity Huffman, Vivica A. Fox, Virginia Madsen,
Garcelle Beauvais, Debra Messing and Renee Zellweger.
Hall
has made guest appearances on national TV shows such as Inside Edition,
The Better Half, SoapTalk, the Jane Pauley Show and Extreme Makeover
where he discussed fashion‘s current trends. He has given
lectures at the Norman Lear Center of the University of Southern
California and for the Costume Council at the Los Angeles Museum
of Modern Art on his inspirations and influences when designing
his collection.
With
his own Signature collection, his philosophy of fashion has remained
true to those early days. "I enjoy the process of design from
concept to execution," he states. "But the most gratifying
part is seeing a design come to life on a beautiful woman."
Rejecting trends and fads in favor of a lasting signature look,
Hall's hallmark of glamour with a modern sensibility is a priceless
gift to the welcoming world. |