Harris Reed, a British-American fashion designer, presented his first show in a salon-style format on the last day of London Fashion Week. He challenged gender perceptions through his artistic and imaginative approach to fashion.
Reed, a Central Saint Martins graduate aged 25, has achieved fashion stardom with his gender-fluid designs, particularily, he was praised for Harry Styles’ tailored suit with exaggerated shoulders and a hoop skirt covered in tulle.
Since graduating in 2020, Reed has showcased his debut gender-neutral collection off-schedule at London Fashion Week in February, become part of Matchesfashion Innovators Programme, made looks for Style’s world tour, dressed pop-stars Solange and Selena Gomez, and was named as The Standard hotel’s first official designer-in-residence in London.
Actually since becoming a ‘pandemic graduate’, Reed hasn’t stopped, he also just launched his first jewellery collection with Missoma celebrating “opulence and glamour” featuring rings, pendants, bracelets and earrings, and he took on the Met Gala and won. A show-stopping gown in gold that was worn by Iran featured a jacquard bustier and flared trousers. It also included a crinoline structure with layers of gold-leaf feathers, as well as a lavish feathered headdress. Harris also won GQ’s Breakthrough Designer of the Year award earlier this month.
Reed, who is based in London, is promoting conversations about gender and personal identity through his “romanticism went nonbinary” approach of design. Think tulle and puff sleeves, and the fashion industry is thrilled to have a new designer.
Harris Reed ‘Found’ September 2021 demi-couture collection
Reed’s first salon show, ‘Found’, took place at the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion. It placed sustainability at its core as most of the pieces were made from Oxfam garments.
The demi-couture collection includes 10 black and white options that reflect heteronormativity. These range from a tiered wedding gown spliced by groomsmen tailoring to a bridal lace steered with a rework of a 19th Century waistcoat.
As part of his effort to build a responsible brand, the social media star, with more than 430,000 Instagram followers, gave new life to secondhand bridalwear sourced directly from Oxfam.
He meticulously rebuilt the garments into fluid creations. He repurposed lace veils as halo headpieces and transformed a tuxedo coat into a dress with a veil that draped from the body, styled over his signature high-waisted flares.
This collection will make you reconsider the standard wedding dress. It features beautiful, over-the-top hybrid dresses and tuxedos that have ruffles down one end, fashionable striped suits with flared trousers and lace that has been refashioned into tops.
Reed shared the following in the show notes. “Working with older pieces has given me a fresh insight to construction. These garments have been given a new life, but I was able to improve my skills and learn from the original condition.”
Harris Reed’s demi couture collection is made from upcycled bridal pieces, sourced from Oxfam
The Selfridges x Oxfam space will feature a look from the ‘Found collection, curated and available for purchase by Bay Garnett. As part of the Second Hand September campaign, all proceeds will be donated to Oxfam to help raise awareness about the negative effects of fast fashion.
Lorna Fallon, Oxfam’s retail director said: “Oxfam loves working with Harris Reed. He shows that it’s possible for a second-hand dress to become haute couture and grace the runway.”
“Upcycling can be a great way to give new life to clothes and to tailor items you find at a charity shop to suit your needs. We can save the planet by making clothes last longer and raising funds to alleviate poverty around the globe.”
