At this year’s Brit Awards, Sam Smith’s daring inflatable latex suit was the talk of the red carpet. Harikrishnan Keezhathil Surendran Pillai (Harri for short), a latex farmer from India, was inspired by his pet dog when he designed the outfit. After receiving the call from Smith only five days before the awards ceremony, Harri worked tirelessly to create the striking design, completing it only an hour before the red carpet.
The overwhelming attention received by the young designer, whose pieces were featured in Perfect magazine last November, prompted Smith to reach out. In the same year, Harri displayed his inflatable couture at a London College of Fashion MA show. The British Fashion Council offered him their Newgen scheme to assist young designers in showcasing their work until they are able to do so independently.
Since then, Harri’s design has garnered both praise and criticism, with some noting its resemblance to a David Bowie ensemble. However, the source of inspiration was his beloved pet. “My dog inspired the concept for the silhouette. It was the thought of him seeing me from his perspective [on the ground looking up].” All of Harri’s balloon-style designs are made from latex, which he and his father export from a plantation in his village of origin in Kerala.
It took Harri several months to master the art of creating latex designs. He informs us that bodybuilding is something he enjoys but cannot sustain, so he had to give it up during his final year of undergraduate study in India. Next Monday, he will present his new collection at London Fashion Week, eager to share it with the world.
Harri says you can either put on Smith’s outfit and then inflate it, or you can inflate it first and then put it on. That’s all there is to it!
The meteoric rise of Harri in the fashion industry is an inspiring tale that demonstrates how talent and perseverance can take you far regardless of where you come from. His designs at this year’s Brit Awards certainly caused a stir, proving that sometimes taking risks pays off.
