Harris Reed unpacks the creative journey with Royal Salute
In conjunction with the launch of Royal Salute 21 Year Old Harris Reed Edition, we caught up with the fashion designer as he shared what went behind the scenes of this collaboration.
How did the partnership come about? What drew you to collaborate with Royal Salute?
For me, Royal Salute is a brand that is all about iconography and heritage and I was a massive fan before even beginning this partnership with them. When they reached out to me, it was truly a dream come true and something I could not turn down. It just perfectly aligned, and I felt there was so much synergy between my own brand morals and theirs. It all felt very organic and authentic.
Tell us more about the private blending session with Master Blender Sandy Hyslop at the iconic Strathisla Distillery in Speyside, Scotland.
It was a really wonderful moment. Sandy's a collector and a very passionate and extraordinary man. We had a very playful day of whisky blending, seeing the extraordinary grounds at Strathisla Distillery, and just having fun together. He is a storyteller and so he understands, much like any extraordinary designer, the way to work with mood boards and images as inspiration. This created a real bond between us, and together we wanted to create a whisky that was going to be loved globally. It's been incredible to see the people that are buying it, because it's men, women, individuals, it's everybody. Sandy really understood that I wanted to make something special and unique. This is what I found so special about the collaboration, there was so much fun in the whole process and I feel lucky to get to say that when I am working!
Were there any particularly memorable moments with whisky that stayed with you or inspired the direction for the collaboration?
When I drink whisky, it often evokes memories of my grandfather and his elegant and poised nature - I remember always wanting to be like him when I grew up. Now, being in my twenties, whisky is something that me and my friends are all able to enjoy together. And so I love how a whole new and amazing culture has emerged from drinking whisky and I find it really amazing to be a part of.
Royal Salute’s heritage and your style are both so distinctive, how did you go about bringing them together in this collaboration? What was the creative process like for you?
Even though our styles might be different, our appreciation for creativity and craftsmanship is very much aligned and became the foundation for the entire partnership. The Royal Salute team was so extraordinary in being open to all my crazy, wacky ideas. From the get-go, we knew that the design needed to be based on one of my fabulous headpieces, as these have become iconic to the Harris Reed brand. Then it was important to bring it to life in multiple colorways – creating something for everyone. I particularly enjoyed being able to find the synergy between what the Harris Reed brand stands for and how it could adapt itself into alcohol, specifically into whisky and the iconic heritage of Royal Salute. The whole process was so much fun and so creatively collaborative.
How would you describe the synergy between you and Royal Salute throughout this collaboration?
Throughout the whole collaboration, we embraced a mindset of never saying no. They kept challenging me, and I kept challenging them which made us a really dynamic team. The result was something vibrant, playful, and highly collectible—a creation that truly stands out.
What’s the one thing you hope people walk away with from this collaboration – whether it’s the whisky, the design, or something else?
I hope it provides people with a new way of viewing and enjoying whisky. I wanted to use the partnership to create a beautiful yet fluid blend so that it is something that can be enjoyed by everyone. To me, it represents a new wave of luxury—celebrating whisky as a centrepiece for gatherings, events, and moments shared with friends and loved ones.
Visit royalesalute.com to discover more.
