Reviving Halston's Glory - Kevan Hall

Ebony, Feb, 2000 by Aldore D. Collier

He wasn't nervous because he had worked with them before and had a lengthy career in designing. The real challenge, he knew, would be to put together a line that would wow not only department store buyers and journalists, but women with lots of discretionary income, then turn around a few months later and do it all over again.

"The pressure has gotten more intense because, fortunately, I've had successful collections," he says. "But, as you continue to have successful collections, the expectations get higher. You always want to come out with something that's exciting and new for your customers."

His outfits have been worn by Natalie Cole, Lynn Whitfield, Meg Ryan, Salma Hayek, Joan Rivers and Dana Delaney.

Beyond celebrities, who are the best advertising a designer could have, Hall described his customer as "women who travel a lot, are more worldly in terms of fashion, those who look for simplicity, comfort and ease. She wants to be really sophisticated, glamorous and sexy at all times." And that, he says, transcends all geographic boundaries.

His work is primarily based in New York, but he has to travel all over the world to search for fabrics as well as inspiration. He says he might be at a museum or just walking down the street with his wife and kids when he'll get inspired to start sketching. "It all starts with ideas, then sketches, quick sketches," he explains. "Then, from there, there are fabrics involved. I travel at least twice a year to Paris shopping for fabrics. From the time I have the idea in my head 'til the time it's actually on the runway, it may be a course of three to four months. It's a quick turnaround."

Because their daughter Asia is 9 and son Evan is 4, Debbie no longer works with him. His family remains based in Los Angeles and he travels to L.A. at least twice a month. The family travels to New York during school breaks to spend time with him.

He is quick to admit that he has been truly blessed. And he knows that other Black designers who are capable and have been behind-the-scenes for years, directing collections and have made some of these houses into mega-corporations. "Of course, it happens to Whites too," he says. "I'm just fortunate."

Unlike Halston himself, Hall pretty much spends free time just relaxing with his family. He has an older sister back in Detroit and his older brother is actor/director Vondie Curtis Hall, one of the stars of the TV show Chicago Hope. "I'm very proud of him," Kevan says. "I always wanted to be like my brother. He was always so well-liked, so unaffected."

Although Hall's job creates tremendous stress and pressures, he says it's all worth it when he sees elegant, happy women wearing ideas that came from his mind and imagination.