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Designer Nidia Harris dresses SAMA star

Nidia Harris is known as SA’s best-kept designer secret, but she won’t be one for much longer after dressing music sensation Tailor for the 2017 SAMAs. Nidia sat down with GLAMOUR for a chat about her collaboration with the artist, and what it’s like to dress the stars.

How did you and Tailor first connect? 

We’ve built a relationship. I like her music very much, and it makes it easier when you adore somebody’s art. It’s a nice synergy. I started by following her on Instagram, and then one day said that I’d love to dress her in a tutu. Even though it was late at night she replied straight away by picking out a design from my Instagram and asking if I made it in black. It was a bright, canary yellow bodysuit. I said, ‘For you, I’m happy to!’ And so it began. Our relationship grew from there, and last month I dressed her for her concert at Montecasino. She opened the show wearing my designs, and we’ve kept in touch since. Then recently she contacted me ahead of the SAMAs and I jumped on board immediately.

What was the collaboration process like? 

I know Tailor’s brand quite well by now, so after discussing her style and her body type, we worked together to design this unique editorial look for her.

What’s the inspiration behind the dress? 

Tailor is an artist that doesn’t want to look too sexy. Her answer to when I tried to make the piece a little more risqué was, ‘Let the music speak for itself.’ Knowing that she comes from that standpoint, and that it’s not about making her dresses the lowest cut or the most ‘out there’ helped shape the process. I also looked to her hairstyle, which has quite a Japanese look. And then, of course, I wanted to showcase my own couture work on her at the same time. It’s very whimsical but also very strong, which is exactly the tone of her album. The dress was made with her, her character, and her work, as the muse. Her album reflects her strength and vulnerability, and I hope that the dress conveys that, too.

How will Tailor keep the dress from falling down at the SAMAs tomorrow?

Easy. I made the dress as a bodystocking, or as a body suit, specifically so that it would stay in place – the cups and everything!

How long did it take from start to finish to design and create the dress? 

We’ve been working on it for three weeks. I sketched designs and sent them to her; she then gave me her feedback and we workshopped it together. It all came about so quickly that I didn’t even have time to think about attending the SAMAs myself! I think that’ll definitely be on the cards the next time we do something together.

Do you think you and Tailor will collaborate again? 

Without a doubt. Tailor was very involved with the process, which has been wonderful. In fact, she has a concert next weekend and we’ll create something for that, too.

To find out more about Nidia Harris and her GLAMOURous designs, follow her on Instagram at @Frock_Royalty or on Facebook at Gaspcouture.

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