By Lara Alhasannieh | Staff Writer
Fashion is not only about looking pretty, but also is an open space where conversations are held and terms renegotiated. Harris Reed, a rising star in the fashion industry, uses his voice and brand to embody fluidity and define himself on his own terms.
Fashion is an art form, and Harris Reed knows just how to use it to create conversations about current social issues. Being a 26-year-old nonbinary fashion designer, Harris Reed explores topics like gender and sexuality by creating gender-fluid designs under the theme of “Romanticism Gone Nonbinary”. As he told Vogue in an interview before his spring/summer 2022 show “It’s always been about fighting for the beauty of fluidity and that hasn’t changed. The identity, though, is definitely shifting – as it develops, it’s getting more romantic, elegant and elevated.”
One of the moments that put Harris Reed’s name on the map was when he dressed Harry Styles for December 2020’s Vogue cover, wearing a caged ballgown skirt with a fitted double-breasted suit. Harry Style’s dress sparked global debate over whether men should be wearing dresses or not. Such a debate is the heartline of Harris Reed’s brand, a brand promoting fluidity, prompting us to question societal norms.
Another key moment in Harris’s career was when Iman showed up to the 2021 Met Gala wearing another one of his jaw dropping designs done with the support of Dolce and Gabbana. Iman wore a gold bustier and trousers under a flared skirt made of layers of shimmering gold feathers cascading downwards creating a dramatic and elegant look.
Moreover, the dress is paired with matching gold earrings and cuff bracelets. Completing the overall glamorous and striking appearance was a headdress radiating outwards like a halo. Iman’s look was to say the least a showstopper. This dress, appearing in all its ethereal glory, went viral over all social media platforms promoting Harris Reed’s brand in the best light, and bringing more attention to the launch of his first collection in 2022.
After graduating from Central Saint Martins in February 2021, Reed unveiled his debut collection consisting of six lavish looks that further ingrained fluidity into the brand’s DNA. The collection is built from a combination of brand-new and repurposed textiles and was totally handmade by Reed and his team. In that collection, Reed demonstrated his talent for fusing masculine and feminine silhouettes seamlessly.
Using his platforms to convey his personal values and assist others in seeking acceptance and self-love, Reed believes that fashion is genuinely revolutionary and has a significant role to play in advancing the world towards a more expressive and inclusive environment. Harris Reed proved to be a new shining star with collections that not only invite stares, but create conversations towards a more innovative look on how clothing and identity intertwine.