On Thursday night, Harris Tapper – the much-loved New Zealand label founded by duo Sarah Harris Gould and Lauren Tapper — has been announced as Designer of the Year at the FQ Fashion Awards. To those who have followed the brand since 2017, the acknowledgment feels both overdue and perfectly timed.
Harris Tapper has always operated with a distinct and unwavering aesthetic — seen not only in their garments, but in their creative direction and the way they present the brand to the world. In their own words, each collection explores the equilibrium between sculpture and minimalism, the ascetic and the voluptuous, the concrete and the sensual – with a relentless focus on refined fit, cut and fabric that forms a language entirely its own. The result is clothing that serves a multifaceted life, for the multidimensional woman.
The past twelve months have been defining ones. A debut show at New Zealand Fashion Week — held intimately offsite at Ponsonby eatery Blue — felt entirely true to the brand’s DNA. No spectacle for its own sake, just beautifully considered clothes — classic books on the seats — all presented with a quiet confidence the label has made its signature. As the judges noted: Harris Tapper is “less about volume and more about strategic elevation.”
Through refined tailoring and exceptional construction, Harris Tapper has earned a fiercely loyal following and, increasingly, a global one. Their exclusive United States launch with Moda Operandi in May — one of the world’s most prestigious luxury fashion platforms — marked a significant moment, not just for Harris Tapper but for New Zealand fashion more broadly. That the partnership was covered by Vogue Business, and that actress Jennifer Lawrence was spotted wearing their Irving trouser layered with their Camilla skirt and Loin top in a standout chartreuse silk georgette, speaks to the level at which the brand is now operating.
Australia, too, has taken notice — a testament to how deeply the Harris Tapper woman has been understood across the Tasman. What makes the Harris Tapper story so compelling is not just where the brand has arrived, but how it got there. It evolved — thoughtfully and deliberately — into a complete and elegant wardrobe for women.
As the FQ Fashion Awards judges said: “Creating a distinctive brand identity that appealed globally while staying connected and true to its New Zealand roots — that’s not an easy balancing act.”
It isn’t. And Harris Tapper has achieved it without compromise. Designer of the Year is more than an acknowledgment of a remarkable 12 months. It is a recognition of a brand that has always known exactly who it is — and has had the discipline, the craft and the vision to let that speak for itself. As one of the judges put it simply: “Well done, Sarah and Lauren. This one is deserved.”
