Harris Reed S/S 2026 London

[LadyJunon]

The lowering of standards across all institutions is absolutely tragic, of course: Just observe the stunningly lowering of standards of once venerable institutions of academia with the installation of DEI leadership, and the unrelenting plague of hivemind mediocrity can't be denied. I’ll leave it at that as far that criticism goes since the mods will delete any further discussion of that topic.

But I’m not convinced it’s the failing systems of fashion institutions that are to be even partially blamed for this era’s lowest of standards in creative and technical prowess. The Greats have always been dissatisfied, underwhelmed, and abandoned fashion schools to strike out on their own. The relentless, insatiable hunger for creative and technical knowledge was real.

It’s not the complete fault of instructors that students aren’t doing their own research; investing in the time and labor— the blood/sweat/tears to strike out on their own to compensate for their institutes’ lack of strong guidance. There are still a masterclass of dressmakers/tailors/seamstresses working that students may invest an apprenticeship relationship with; there are archives that the institutions possess that students are privileged to; there are resources and networks— both academic and technical that students are privy to within and without their institutions; and there’s this eternally, vast, creative repository known as the interweb, with its limitless resources, knowledge, and history that anyone can access if they devote the time and the patience, to soak up so so so much. Why people like Harris Reed/Sean McGirr/Dilara Findikoglu can’t seem to nudge beyond the late-90s version of gothic romance is entirely of their own failure and conservative standard, and not the system’s. The Greats rebelled and challenged against the system that they were unsatisfied with, were uninspired by, and they set themselves out for greater discoveries and accomplishments. Maybe there’s just nothing to rebel against anymore, nothing worthy of challenge. That to work for a fabled label, owned by greedy corporations, is the greatest goal, nowadays. And this sort of Avril Lavigne/Hot Topic mall-punk/mall-couture is the result.

I also understand that everything that pushes and challenges standards to another level, another plane, another height, as already been conquered. Maybe that’s why there’s this unfortunate trend to uglify beauty standards nowadays: They don’t possess the creative vision nor the challenge to go any higher— may as well go lower and attempt to convince everyone that a sloppy caricature is the new frontier-- and that they're the #first to do it LMFAO (...If Prada is trolling as a soulless corporate caricature of its former glorious self, may as well join along. Insert @LadyJunon profile pic.)

*inserting profile pic*

 

[educo]

^^^ High fantasy is the greatest height of high fashion vision and production. Absolutely coveted and lusted. Not so sure about it being needed: High fashion is not needed, frankly.

Unfortunate that this new gen simply do not possess the technical and creative visionary talent and complex understanding for the stratospheric heights achieved and produced by Gaultier/Galliano/McQueen and their worthy heirs Olivier Theyskens/Riccardo Tsci/A.F. Vandevorst— all of whom achieved a layered referenced, and nuanced fantastical aesthetic that, when stripped into its core separates, were for the most part, pragmatically accessible, versatile, and timeless. Not so much with this generation— who are too obsessed with likes/follows of the social realm that champions flat caricatures viewed for that 15sec of gratification before swiping left. And people like Harris Reed/Sean McGirr/Dilara Findikoglu are just stans playing tribute dressup blatantly ripping off of greater OGs with not much, if anything of their own to add— and that’s being very kind. It’s a fast-food hunger rather than a disciplined, refined palette . Our hope lies with the next generation after this wasted, useless one.

We’ll talk in another 20 years…

If tech's effect on fashion continues the way that it has we might not have to wait 20 years to see the industry go up in flames. I've always said social media and the celebrification of designers was a detriment to the fashion industry. It's shameful to see lack of reverence for the skills needed for craftsmanship in these new age designers. These were skills that were expected to be acquired over a lifetime, giving respect to those who've mastered it before you. Now you have these designers flipping off true artisans off because they don't pass the vibe check. It's disgusting.

 

[educo]

sometimes i wonder about this too... realistically speaking fashion schools play a part in this but theyre not the sole culprit, its much bigger than fashion and we can observe this dumbing down and subsequent financialization happening across all fields of knowledge, from social sciences, applied sciences to the arts (i doubt harris is making any profit tho 😛). its very cliche to say this but fashion is a reflection of a certain time period, after all.

imo fashion schools are at fault when it comes to the lack of rigour while teaching technical habilities like drawing, sewing, draping etc, fashion students nowadays are profecient moodboard makers. ofc no ones expecting every fashion student to draw like durer or ingres, or drape like cristobal but basic sewing knowledge and some illustration proficiency should be enforced.

also teachers and schools arent pushing the students interests beyond fashion, fashion exists beyond early 00s galliano/mcqueen... there are so many things to explore and be inspired by, someone like ghesquiere pulls a lot inspiration from fashion history but looking at his collections we can see that he's cultured.

harris for example is the epitome of this failing system, theyre like an uncapable and unskilled sore churning out slop for the lowest common denominator on instagram 😛

This has been going on for the last decade at least. I remember an interview where Rick owens said all he was getting were amazing moodboards and no one who had actual technical skill. I think people don't want them because that means you're in the back doing the "grunt" work and not front of house getting clout.

 

[Constructionist]

The lowering of standards across all institutions is absolutely tragic, of course: Just observe the stunningly lowering of standards of once venerable institutions of academia with the installation of DEI leadership, and the unrelenting plague of hivemind mediocrity can't be denied. I’ll leave it at that as far that criticism goes since the mods will delete any further discussion of that topic.

But I’m not convinced it’s the failing systems of fashion institutions that are to be even partially blamed for this era’s lowest of standards in creative and technical prowess. The Greats have always been dissatisfied, underwhelmed, and abandoned fashion schools to strike out on their own. The relentless, insatiable hunger for creative and technical knowledge was real.

It’s not the complete fault of instructors that students aren’t doing their own research; investing in the time and labor— the blood/sweat/tears to strike out on their own to compensate for their institutes’ lack of strong guidance. There are still a masterclass of dressmakers/tailors/seamstresses working that students may invest an apprenticeship relationship with; there are archives that the institutions possess that students are privileged to; there are resources and networks— both academic and technical that students are privy to within and without their institutions; and there’s this eternally, vast, creative repository known as the interweb, with its limitless resources, knowledge, and history that anyone can access if they devote the time and the patience, to soak up so so so much. Why people like Harris Reed/Sean McGirr/Dilara Findikoglu can’t seem to nudge beyond the late-90s version of gothic romance is entirely of their own failure and conservative standard, and not the system’s. The Greats rebelled and challenged against the system that they were unsatisfied with, were uninspired by, and they set themselves out for greater discoveries and accomplishments. Maybe there’s just nothing to rebel against anymore, nothing worthy of challenge. That to work for a fabled label, owned by greedy corporations, is the greatest goal, nowadays. And this sort of Avril Lavigne/Hot Topic mall-punk/mall-couture is the result.

I also understand that everything that pushes and challenges standards to another level, another plane, another height, as already been conquered. Maybe that’s why there’s this unfortunate trend to uglify beauty standards nowadays: They don’t possess the creative vision nor the challenge to go any higher— may as well go lower and attempt to convince everyone that a sloppy caricature is the new frontier-- and that they're the #first to do it LMFAO (...If Prada is trolling as a soulless corporate caricature of its former glorious self, may as well join along. Insert @LadyJunon profile pic.)

DEI leadership??? Lmaoooo!!!!

Never thought I would see a comment like this in a fashion forum.

Do you want to MFGA? Make Fashion Great Again?

 

[RosesAreRed]

Why do you think he is so popular on social media?