Beyoncé’s stylist launches athleisure line
Ty Hunter walked into the Galleria and stood a few feet from Bebe, the store he worked in years ago. The longtime fashion stylist for Beyoncé was in town to debut his new athleisure collection at Six:02.
It was a homecoming, in a way.
“I worked in this mall 17 years ago. I remember the lunch breaks and the food court,” he said. “To see how things have come full circle and to have a billboard for my collection, literally across from Bebe, is pretty amazing. This is where it all started for me.”
The new Ty Hunter by Reflex collection is Hunter’s first major fashion venture since he scaled back his work with Beyoncé a few years ago. During that time, he’s come out with a fun T-shirt and sweatshirt line called With Passion and the Ty-Lite, a lighted cellphone case for the perfect selfies.
“I’ve always wanted to do a women’s clothing line, and I love athleisure,” he said. “It’s perfect for all women — those who workout and those who don’t.”
Hunter started working on the line last fall, creating 80 colorful sketches of his vision. He was inspired by the mod look of the ’60s. He also is a little obsessed with polka dots, which he uses on several pieces in the line. Prices range from $45 to $200.
“When you think of athleisure, women tend to go with gray, black or white — and maybe navy. I wanted this to be a colorful and happy collection,” Hunter said.
His pieces are named after women who inspired him. There’s the Connie dress named for his mother, Connie Hunter; the Sasha bodysuit for Beyoncé’s alter ego; the Solo shirt named for Solange; and the Tina top, for Tina KnowlesLawson, mother of Beyoncé and Solange.
In 2000, Hunter was working at Bebe when Knowles-Lawson was a shopping there for looks for Destiny’s Child. They developed a rapport, and he would help with the girl group’s styling. When Destiny’s Child went on tour, Knowles-Lawson asked Hunter to join them.
He has traveled the world and stepped across every major red carpet with Beyoncé. But he says he doesn’t miss it.
“I knew I was blessed, but it wasn’t until I stepped away from it all that I was able to really reflect on my life. Now, I get to be in the moment and be really focused on being an entrepreneur. I’m also able to be a fan,” he said.
“The coolest thing is, I’m able to enjoy watching a Beyoncé concert and not worry about a quick change. We still communicate, but it feels good when I’m surprised like the rest of the world in seeing her pregnancy photos or what she’s wearing at the Grammys. I get to have a ‘wow moment’ as a fan.”
At Six:02 in the Galleria, Hunter was joined by his mother and other family members who drove in from Austin for the debut event.
“It’s unbelievable to come from working in the mall to this,” said his mother, Connie Hunter. “He’s back where he started but at a higher level. I’m really about to pass out. I’m so happy for him.”
She reflected on the time her son left to work with Destiny’s Child on the road.
“I didn’t want him to leave, but I met Tina, and she told me, ‘You don’t have to worry about Ty. I’ll treat him like my son.’ And she did.”
The new Ty Hunter by Reflex collection is available at the three Six:02 stores in Houston, including the Galleria, Memorial City and Willowbrook malls.