When Fashion Speaks
- Emily
- Feb 24
- 2 min read
Harris Reed The Architect of LFW's Opening
London Fashion Week opened fashionably and Harris Reed was at the centre of it. His latest collection, Reed’s AW25, reminded us that he is always at the forefront of the fashion world. The American British designer is impractical, as his designs vary in gender and his runway presentations are theatrical. Yet, he never fails to deliver with his approach to fashion being more than just the surface level.
It’s 2025, and Reed knows that fashion is about much more than what walks down the runway. It’s about who walks, how they walk, and, in this case, what they say. Enter Florence Pugh, who “just” did not come to showcase a dress, instead, she positioned herself to be able to deliver what is arguably one of the most important speeches of the new age within fashion .
The Oscar-nominated actress, didn’t just wear his design; she embodied it. Pugh captivated the room with a monologue on fearlessness and authenticity, urging the audience to “be yourself.” While Reed has used similar theatrics in the past, it works. The monologue might border on dramatic, but with Reed, it’s part of his ethos—fashion that makes a statement – and he indeed makes a statement.
It's not the first time Reed has integrated art with fashion. His AW23 show also began with a spoken word moment, setting the tone for a collection that embraced maximalism, ornate details, and a gender-blurring sensibility. But this season, focused on a request to reconsider the idea of self-expression in a world where clothing is heavily considered an extension of one’s identity.
But what truly made an impression was the message and, more importantly, the understanding that fashion is a statement and Reed knows how to use the runway to say it. London Fashion Week did not begin with yet another show, it began with a message, and for that Reed deserves his flowers.
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