Halston names Ken Downing new creative director

By

Benjamin Fitzgerald

Published
Jul 22, 2022

Xcel Brands announced on Thursday the appointment of Ken Downing to the role of creative director of luxury fashion brand Halston, effective August 1.

In his new role, ​Downing will oversee the creative direction of Halston and serve as the public face and voice of the brand, including through hosting Halston livestream sessions over all screens, according to a press release.

A luxury fashion veteran, Downing previously served as senior vice president and fashion director for Neiman Marcus, where under his direction the department store launched a series of high-touch customer experience and fashion-centric digital initiatives, including real-time runway fashion coverage, VIP events and social media interviews with designers, celebrities, models and influencers.

Downing also served as chief creative officer of international retail developer Triple Five Group Worldwide, for which he helped launch American Dream, a revolutionary 3.3 million square foot shopping, dining and entertainment complex in East Rutherford, New Jersey.

Found in the 1960's by ​Roy Halston Frowick, the Halston brand to rose fame for its use of signature materials such as jersey, cashmere and suede to reinvent the jumpsuit, the shirtdress, and the classic caftan. The 1970’s and the era of Studio 54 soon became synonymous with Halston’s designs, with many celebrities at the time adopting his creations including Andy Warhol, Bianca Jagger, Elizabeth Taylor and Anjelica Huston. 

In 2014, Xcel Brands bought the H by Halston and H Halston diffusion labels, followed by the purchasing of the Halston and Halston Heritage brands in 2019.