Lucien Harrison cuts his way into fashion

Fashion designer Lucien Harrison has spent over a decade honing his craft. The former barber cut his way into fashion, bringing bold colour and texture to ready-to-wear and couture, making him a fashion force to be reckoned with.

“Fashion means everything to me. It is something I cannot live without. Fashion allows me to connect with a lot of people and touch so many lives. It’s a big deal for me, I enjoy doing it and it’s the only thing I see myself doing,” he told Living.

Harrison started as a wedding designer, making dresses and suits. But because the market has slow seasons, he decided to venture into couture, boutique style. This year, he launched his first-ever collection, much to the delight of family, friends and fashion fans.

For as long as he can remember, Harrison has had a clear passion for fashion. The strikingly stunning creative expression often stood as a stark contrast to his shy and reserved demeanour. This talent was evident at an early age when he would innovatively use tissue paper to make clothing for dolls.

But he credits his style inspiration to his fashionista mother. “My most vivid style memory is [my] mother getting ready for work. Fashion, for me, started within my household. I used to always see Mommy with matching colours. She’d put on her skirt and complement her look with a headwrap with [a] stick, Asian style. She was a fan of vest suits as well. And even though we never had it like that, we would be happy when mommy came to school because we knew she would dress up in her heels. She always told me first impressions last so I should always dress to impress,” he shared.

By seventh grade, his interest took on a new pattern and he formed an active hobby. While at St Andrew Technical High School he happily entertained the idea of becoming a designer. Along the way, he took an artistic detour to barbering, creating magic with fabric on the side. He was, however, able to find his fashion footing full-time during the global pandemic.

TURNING POINT

He started making some fashionable masks. Until one day, everything changed when media personality Simone Clarke requested Harrison to be her stylist. The rest, as they say it, is history. “You will never get fed with a closed mouth. I asked Simone if I could design something for her for the grand gala. She said sure. The inspiration came from a curtain, placing green and black underneath for a stunning effect. When I arrived and zipped up the dress, it popped. She was calm and I was able to go home, fix it and meet her at the National Stadium. Since then, every time she has an event, she calls me. Simone helped to put my name on the map and I am so grateful,” he said, adding, “Since then, I’ve started making clothes for everyone, stopped my nine-to-five and focused on fashion,” the celebrity designer added.

Designing for both men and women, Harrison’s couture tips on the scale of vintage. His timeless pieces are versatile and unique, personalised for his client’s preferences and emotions. “I love to have a conversation with my clients, where they are going and how they are feeling, what they like and dislike. If it is a female, which body part they don’t want to expose. And this dictates the style direction. Then we select the colours, fabric and style. During the process, I may be able to encourage them to show a little shoulder, when they do trust you, they will step out of their comfort zone. These clients really care and I give them that safe space.”

The designer also makes the world his runway. Making clothing for himself, people often query about the source. When they hear that it is self-constructed, they will ask him to design something for them, “The only thing is, when you find a male ordering one suit, a female will order 20 dresses,” the image consultant and stylist revealed.

This venture has taken him to places such as Germany, Belgium, Bali, Indonesia and Qatar, places he has only dreamed of. “When I was in Indonesia, I walked into a hardware store and bought a sheet. It was all that I could afford at the time. There was a sewing machine at the place I was staying at. And I cut up the sheet and made a shirt to go to Indonesia Fashion Week. It’s a blessing and I surprise myself every day.”

Always seeing the bigger picture, this self-taught designer has shown others the benefits of this non-traditional career path. Already, he has visited several schools to educate students on the career option. “If people knew that assembling some cloth can provide everything for an individual. As Jamaicans, we are so talented; we can literally use our hands and make fashion. So to know that I can get up, walk into another room with a machine, start putting clothes together and people really love it; that in and of itself is a win,” he shared. As for the runway, he is looking forward to his upcoming show in September.

With hopes that one day, the local fashion industry would be as united and collaborative as it is internationally, this engaging and awakening journey has been enlightening, one filled with ups and downs. However, he remains motivated by his passion as well as his clients’ exciting response to his work.

“It has been an interesting learning experience, one that I hope to build a legacy on and share with the future generation.”

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com