If Kevan Hall walked down a red carpet, you may not know who he is.  But I guarantee that you've seen one of his designs on red carpets or featured in a few dozen fashion magazines.  Felicity Huffman, Sharon Stone, Renee Zellweger, Angela Bassett, Debra Messing, Vivica A. Fox, and Salma Hayek are just some of the celebrities that have been dressed by this innovative fashion designer.  He has been in the fashion industry since 1982 and isn't going anywhere.

Earlier this year, I was sitting at the kitchen table of my parent's house discussing ideas for future articles for LA2DAY with my mother.  During the conversation she said, "Why don't you do one on Kevan Hall?"  "Hmmm...that would be good," I replied.  I heard Kevan Hall's name called out a few times while watching red carpets in the past, but didn't know much about him.  I knew he was a designer, and that was basically it.  After that conversation, it seemed like every red carpet event and fashion magazine I came across featured a gown by Kevan Hall.   His designs are sophisticated, elegant, glamorous, and modern.  That's when I realized it was time to do some research.  So, who is Kevan Hall?     

Since the age of seven, Hall has known that he wanted to be a fashion designer.  Upon graduating from high school, the Detroit native won a scholarship to the Los Angeles-based Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising.  FIDM honored him with the Peacock Award for "Outstanding Fashion Design."  With stats like these, he was bound to become a prominent designer in the fashion world.

Hall and his wife, Deborah launched Kevan Hall Couture in 1982.  His collection was carried by retailers like Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, I. Magnin and others nationwide.  The commercial success of Kevan Hall Couture was followed by a series of acknowledgments.  Hall was nominated in 1988 as one of California's Top Designers.  In 1989, he was included in the "Soul on Seventh Avenue" show sponsored by Fairchild Publications.  That same year, he received the NAACP's "Great American Designer" award.  In 1992, he was honored by the Center of Performing Arts in Southern California for his 10 years of contribution to the fashion industry.  He branched out into motion pictures, acting as costume consultant on 1997's Gridlock and Eve's Bayou.

Seeing Kevan Hall's capability, Halston approached him with an opportunity of a lifetime.  Hall soon became the Design and Creative Director for Halston (Fall 1998-Spring 2000) and completely revived the prestigious fashion house.  Two years later, he launched his Kevan Hall Collection and debuted at Mercedes Benz Fashion Week during the Spring 2005 season.  More acknowledgements and honors followed after his 2002 launch.  Hall won the 47th Annual Gold Coast Fashion Award in Chicago as "Designer of the Year" and in 2005 he was awarded "Stylemaker of the Year" by Life & Style Magazine.

With all the accolades and accomplishments, Hall's philosophy remains the same: "I enjoy the process of design from concept to execution, but the most gratifying part is seeing a design come to life on a beautiful woman."

By Dorielle Hammonds

*For more info on this month's Designer Spotlight, go to www.kevanhalldesigns.com