HARRIS TAPPER
'THIS IS NICE’ CHATS WITH HARRIS TAPPER FOUNDERS, SARAH HARRIS GOULD AND LAUREN TAPPER, ON HARRIS TAPPER’S AW21 COLLECTION, WHAT’S NEXT FOR THE BRAND, AND THE ADVICE THEY WOULD GIVE TO ASPIRING DESIGNERS.
‘This is nice’: I discovered Harris Tapper through Instagram a while back and it has been AT the top of my mind since. For those unlike myself, who haven’t been stalking you for months, can you give a bit of backstory on how the brand came to be?
Sarah Harris Gould: Lauren and I met in 2016, whilst working together for a global fashion business. We saw a gap in the market for quality women’s shirting. From the outset, the conversation was always around creating pieces that transcended traditional boundaries between work- and occasion-wear. We both believed in the idea that clothes should last for more than one season and wanted to balance ideas of timeless style with lasting design and high quality. For us, it made sense to start small and build up, so we launched Harris Tapper focusing on only one item that we considered a foolproof staple for any woman’s wardrobe: the shirt. Since then, Harris Tapper has organically grown to now offer full collections that, while bigger, maintain the same philosophy we started with.
‘tIN’: AS YOU MENTIONED Harris Tapper began with women's shirting and has now expanded into full womenswear collections, is this something you always envisioned for the brand?
SHG: Yes, we have big, global goals and have had these since the very first conversation. This is only the beginning of the journey.
‘TIN’: Your newly released AW21 ‘Concurrence’ collection is comprised of strong sophisticated pieces that are wearable and timeless. What was your inspiration behind this collection?
Lauren Tapper: AW21 ‘Concurrence’ is about the meeting of two ideas, it explores the contrast between natural form and linear detailing. We were inspired by Anne Brigman and her photographic exploration of the female form, as well as the linear design and natural irregularity of George Nakashima’s architecture and furniture.
‘Tin’: Do you have a favourite piece from your new collection?
SHG: The Jacquelyn Coat, it’s a beautiful piece with considered tailoring.
LT: The Dree Shirt. I love the soft structure of the wool/silk blend fabric but most days I wear the Kate or Kantor Shirt.
FAST FAVOURITES
‘TIN’: Place?
SHG: Manhattan, New York.
LT: Carlos Place, Mayfair.
‘TIN’: Song?
SHG: Anything by Solange Knowles.
LT: I Heard it Through the Grapevine, Marvin Gaye.
‘TIN’: Restaurant?
SHG: Fischer’s Marylebone, London.
LT: Azabu, Auckland, NZ.
‘TIN’: Australian/New Zealand designer?
SHG: Georgia Currie, who recently closed the doors of her label Georgia Alice.
LT: Wynn Hamlyn – we went to university together. His knitwear is amazing.
‘TIN’: International designer?
SHG: Phoebe.
LT: Francisco Costa when he was at Calvin Klein.
‘TIN’: Person?
SHG: I have many.
LT: Too many to name.
‘TIN’: Season?
SHG: Winter.
LT: It used to be Summer, now it’s Winter.
‘TIN’: Harris Tapper collection?
SHG: The current collection, AW21 Concurrence.
LT: The one we are designing at the moment, SS22.
‘TIN’: Colour?
SHG: Black.
LT: Black.
‘TIN’: Quote?
SHG: Something my dad says “If you keep doing what you’re doing, you’ll keep getting what you’re getting.”
LT: I love this quote Aretha Franklin wrote in a letter to a Newsday columnist in 1993, “P.S. You are hardly in any position to determine what separates stars from divas since you are neither one or an authority on either”. Know your worth.
Listen to Lauren’s favourite song here.
Sarah’s favourite international designer, Phoebe Philo.
Sarah’s favourite Harris Tapper collection, AW21 Concurrence.
‘Tin’: I can’t help but notice how many of my favourite designers and brands are based in New Zealand. What do you think it is about New Zealand that produces such talented creatives?
SHG: The space to be brave. The New Zealand market is very receptive and supportive of creative pursuits, we feel very fortunate.
‘tin’: Can you define your roles within the brand and what a day in the office looks like?
SHG: Lauren is our Creative Director, she designs the collections and sets the overall vision of the brand - I trust her eye completely.
LT: Sarah is our Managing Director. She is the most driven person I know and I feel lucky to work alongside someone who puts dreams into action with such finesse!
A day in the office…no two days are the same, each is a mix of fittings, meetings (on and off site), events and ranging. It’s unpredictable but it’s what makes it exciting.
‘tin’: What are your proudest moments since launching Harris Tapper in 2017?
SHG: Seeing our team continue to grow and sharing the success with them.
LT: We are about to launch a store-in-store store with Harrods on the 2nd August. It’s an iconic store with a lot of history that we have both grown up knowing and admiring.
‘tin’: Is there any advice you would give to someone wanting to start their own brand?
SHG: Understand why you’re truly doing it and keep this at the core of everything you do.
LT: Get experience. Work for someone you admire and learn everything you can. Go into fashion with your eyes open.
‘Tin’: Finally, what is next for Harris Tapper?
SHG: Harris Tapper is more than just clothes, our core purpose is to champion female independence. We have many big ideas and aspirations for the future.
You can shop HARRIS TAPPER’S AW21 COLLECTION HERE.
FILL IN THE BLANK… ‘IT’S _________ TO BE NICE’
‘IT’S IMPORTANT TO BE NICE’
— Sarah Harris Gould, Co-founder & Managing Director of Harris Tapper
‘IT’S a given TO BE NICE’
— Lauren Tapper Co-founder and Creative Director of Harris Tapper