In Conversation: Harris Reed And Veronica Etro

‘I’m always showing on my [Instagram] stories: “oh it’s me and my small team sewing, it’s in London, I’m getting fabric, I’m crying because the DHL men never came so Lady Gaga never got her outfit, I’m sobbing.” I love it because it shows that transparency,’ says designer Harris Reed. Catching up over Zoom, the rising star and Veronica Etro, creative director at Etro, bond over their rebellious spirit, the emotional impact of fashion and the reality of being a designer in the Instagram era. Our annual Innovators programme championing emerging talent is back. This year, 14 menswear and womenswear designers are taking part, receiving integral support and mentoring to grow their businesses and, in turn, deliver exciting collections and stories. Join us this month for a series of exclusive conversations that see the emerging menswear and womenswear talents paired with established designers they admire – from Donatella Versace to Olivier Rousteing. The Innovators programme 2021 features: Michael Halpern, Priya Ahluwalia, Harris Reed, Grace Wales Bonner, Bianca Saunders, Emma Chopova and Laura Lowena-Irons, Stefan Cooke and Jake Burt, Thebe Magugu, Steven Stokey-Daley, Ludovic de Saint Sernin, Nensi Dojaka, Charles Jeffrey, Kevin Germanier and Maximilian Davis. Discover more on our Instagram: instagram.com/matchesfashion