Watch: Designer of Sam Smith’s iconic LaTeX Brit Awards jumper says he was inspired by his dog
The creative brain behind Sam Smith’s iconic Brit Awards red carpet look revealed the inspiration behind her latex balloon styles, and it comes from an unexpected place.
Fashion designer Harri came up with the one-piece inflatable that Smith wore on the red carpet at Saturday’s Brit Awards ceremony that had everyone going over the weekend.
The Unholy singer made a stunning appearance at London’s O2 Arena in the all-in-one latex outfit which featured voluminous detailing on the sleeves and legs.
London-born and born designer Hari Krishnan, of the fashion brand Harri, is best known for his bespoke work featuring these oversized, blown-out parts on the legs and shoulders that give with the sense of balloons.
But it all started in an unusual place.
Speaking on Good Morning Britain on Monday morning, Harri revealed that he first started designing the inflatable pants in 2020 after being inspired by his dog.
Read more: Sam Smith’s latex bodysuit was the most iconic look on the Brit Awards red carpet
“I started thinking about it from my dog’s point of view,” he revealed to hosts Ranvir Singh and Robert Rinder, who said the design looked like “an installation at the Tate Modern”.
“I have a little dog, his name is Khai,” he explained, “I began to wonder how he would see me from this angle, this distorted image.”
Smith contacted Krishnan after seeing his work, but the designer revealed that he only had “four days” to get the latex dress red carpet ready for the Brit Awards.
“A lot of emotion and a lot of work went into it,” Krishnan said. “I’ve worked with proportions before, but never as big as Sam was throwing on Saturday.”
The larger-than-life latex designs get their balloon look from a seven-millimeter-long inflation valve that pumps air throughout the suit, and they’re not as difficult to get in and out of as many think, says Krishnan. .
“It’s precisely cut, made for the body…” he told the GMB host. “I work personally with clients, so they get in and out, like you wear your pants. It’s like a tailored suit or trousers.”
A movement artist even demonstrated how easy it was to move in the design on the breakfast chat show, completing dance moves across the stage in an outfit similar to hitmaker Gloria.
Krishnan also revealed that Smith walked the red carpet with the outfit fully on, adding: “I think they did a great job walking in it.”
Smith’s bespoke all-black outfit made a bold statement at the 2023 Brit Awards, held at London’s O2 Arena, and quickly went viral on social media, but the artist later had a change of clothes for his award performance won. single Unholy with collaborator Kim Petras.