Toto, I don’t think we're in Kansas anymore… W recently took over Shun Lee West in New York City’s Lincoln Center to celebrate its 50th Anniversary, and what better way to honor the magazine’s half century of style innovation than with a work by design iconoclast Harris Reed? Inspired by Dorothy’s ruby red slippers from The Wizard Of Oz*, Lexus challenged Reed to reinterpret, reimagine, and reinvent the iconic movie footwear as ruby red rims on their all-new Lexus RX. They challenged him to take the road less traveled.
We recently sat down with Reed to talk about his work, his collaboration with Lexus, and how he uses fashion to fight for something greater.
On his creative point of view
“I would describe myself as a designer who is quite daring, unapologetically myself, and always coming from a place of outrage and constant queer expression. Everything that I create is really about making a world — being a queer designer [I find it especially important to] build these incredible spaces where you feel like you can be the most heightened version of yourself and the most authentic you.”
On the origin of his collaboration with Lexus
“My assignment from Lexus was to really push a bold and hopeful original design for the rims of the new Lexus RX: to take notes, appreciation, and inspiration from the iconic The Wizard of Oz film, to take a look at those ruby red slippers, and translate them into a disruptive, new, and unique rim design.”
The concept
“My idea for the ruby red rims really came to me quite quickly. I love hats. I love a statement piece that brings attention to the wearer, that makes people stare and almost not be able to look away from someone owning who they are so unapologetically. For the rims, it really came about [from] larger-than-life silhouettes of hats and also tying in a cheeky wink to The Wizard of Oz and this idea of a tornado wrapping into this gorgeous ruby.”
The impact
“I think the rims that I've created will really complement the new Lexus RX, because when I looked at the vehicle, what I really loved about it was the bold, daring, and quite striking design. These rims are really about breaking those barriers. Looking at the different textures of the blades that act like the feathers of one of my head pieces, the shimmer that's really about Dorothy’s ruby red slippers, and this louder-than-life design that hopefully comes across in everything I do—I think it's really going to create the ultimate bold driving experience.”
The legacy
“I think like a fluid ocean, you have to keep going and keep pushing. Never losing your edge I think means always challenging yourselves, always fighting from within and always remembering who you are. As a creative designer and individual, I've always pushed myself to take the path less traveled, the one that is uncharted, that is unknown, that's almost in the wilderness. [I’m constantly striving] to really push and trek through the rain with my platforms on, to fight for something greater, to really create my own path and place in this space.”
*THE WIZARD OF OZ and all related characters and elements © & ™ Turner Entertainment Co. (s22)
