Harris Tapper has built their cult international following—now they're showing at NZFW for the first time

After years of building one of New Zealand’s most distinctive fashion brands, Harris Tapper is showing at New Zealand Fashion Week for the first time. The announcement came yesterday—just ahead of the full NZFW schedule dropping tomorrow—and feels like a long-overdue addition to the lineup.

Founded in 2017 by Sarah Harris Gould and Lauren Tapper, the brand has grown with a palatable kind of confidence, favouring precision over noise. Their silhouettes—sharp, minimal, and grounded in purpose—have made them a go-to for women who want to look considered without overthinking it. Now, after seven years of scaling internationally, they’re choosing this moment to mark their presence locally.

The show will be held at Blue in Ponsonby, and is set to feel more like a 1960s couture salon than a traditional runway. It’s a deliberate choice: personal, unfussy, and reflective of the brand’s approach to design. Guests will be served Tanqueray Gibsons as they view the collection in an intimate setting—less of a performance, more of a conversation.

'We are never in a rush to be loud,' says Lauren. 'But this feels like the right moment to speak; there's a new pulse in New Zealand fashion, and it’s time for us to contribute to that shift.'

This is real. We all know that local fashion is shifting, and Harris Tapper’s decision to show now—not just internationally, but here—says something about where the momentum is. The label has doubled its revenue annually and seen a 200% lift in online sales over the past year, all while staying true to its original vision: refined tailoring, considered cuts, and a wardrobe that works hard without needing attention.

And while their global expansion has been deliberate, this Fashion Week debut feels like a nod to home. Not in a nostalgic, retrospective sense—but as a signal of cultural intent. A way to say: we built this from here.