Harris Reed has released his debut collection, see the campaign here

American-born, London-based designer Harris Reed has had a monumental start to 2021. For most, the emerging designers most poignant moment happened back in 2020, when the internet's dream boy Harry Styles covered Vogue wearing one of Reed's dresses - a moment that was, in the media's eyes, an iconic marker of progress for mainstream fashion. Fast forward to February 2021, and Reed has just released his debut collection since graduating from Central Saint Martins, comprised of six looks, all as opulent as the next - an ethereal interpretation of the fluidity that is built into the brand's DNA.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Harris Reed (@harris_reed)

The collection, which has been handmade entirely by Reed alongside his team, is constructed with a mix of new and upcycled fabrics. A visceral blend of masculine and feminine silhouettes informs everything Reed does, and his debut collection is no exception. Tuxedo suiting is intercepted with gradient tulle spilling from cutouts, mermaid-like silhouettes are mimicked with ombré orange tulle, layered over tailored trousers. In another shot, a vast, bodiced skirt spans past the single models legs, spilling out with crimson layers of taffeta. The final look takes form in a white wedding gown, repurposed from a pre-loved wedding dress with a reimagined bodice. The skirt, which is layers of extravagant mesh, feels perfect for a reception setting as it's seen arching over the shoulder, a small hole for the wearer’s arm to peek through.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Harris Reed (@harris_reed)

“I really wanted to put the clothes on a man’s body, someone with male features, and really play up the feminine silhouettes to such an extreme to say that this message is here to stay,” Reed tells Them of why he chose the single model Momo Ndiayen. “These clothes are here to prove a point. This is not about selling you something on the rack. This is about hopefully trying to change the way that we think about things and see things. I’m not trying to be controversial. I’m just trying to do what feels like the right thing for me.”

A sentiment that we need more of in the industry as a whole, let the collection speak to it, below.