The US consumer goods and media group Xcel Brands Inc. has appointed Ken Downing as Creative Director of the fashion brand Halston. Downing will take up his new post on August 1 and will then “lead the evolution of Halston” while also serving as the “public face and voice of the label,” the company said on Thursday. The designated creative director will also appear in the brand’s live shopping streams.
Downing comes from the media company Hearst, where he most recently held the position of chief brand officer for the HLC e-commerce division. His previous roles included Fashion Director at retailer Neiman Marcus from 1991 to 2019 and then Chief Creative Officer at conglomerate Triple Five Group.
Commenting on the appointment, Xcel Chairman and CEO Robert D’Loren said, “This appointment is another important step in realizing our vision for Halston and in our broader strategy to continue growing our live selling ecosystem is worn by well-known and authentic personalities and enables our brands to have direct contact with customers,” he said in a statement. “Ken’s creative vision and expertise in brand building is second to none, and his magnetic, warm personality has made him one of the most well-known and respected figures in fashion.”
The US designer label Halston became well known, especially in the 1970s. Last year, a mini-series about founder Roy Halston Frowick aired on the streaming service Netflix caused new popularity. Halston’s full trademark rights were acquired by Xcel Brands in 2019.