HARRY’S X MADE THOUGHT

SEEKING A DIFFERENT TYPE OF COLLABORATION

After a run of limited edition product collaborations with brands like Thom Browne and Tom Dixon, Harry’s was set on a different kind of creative partnership – one that would allow them to explore future-fit ideas for the products of tomorrow. 

We quickly discovered one obsession we shared was the attention to detail we pay to the design of even the smallest and most accessible objects. Today, everyday essentials are purchased unconsciously – we don’t think about their impact as much as we should and it’s leaving a terrible legacy. 

We wanted to create something together that challenged the notion of throwaway everyday items and sparked a conversation around materiality.

THE MAKE-TO-USE RATIO: A RAZOR TO LAST A LIFETIME

Our co-founder Ben Parker kick started the creative process with a personal story. To this day, he is still using his trusted razor that was given to him at the age of eighteen. Decades on, this modest £5 razor, designed by legend Dieter Rams, remains unflawed and reliable. We started to assess how many shaves it had seen him through (roughly 9,000) and those milestone moments – graduation, first date, wedding day, job interview. This got us thinking about a ‘make-to-use ratio’.

PRODUCTS THAT CAN OUTLIVE US VS SINGLE-USE NECESSITIES

Leaning into the fact there is both a need for some daily items to be made to last, with others to be responsibly made to waste, we can reshape our design thinking to find the optimum material for the need and number of uses.

‘Return To Earth’ was integral to our design focus – rooting everything back to the earth’s resources and the mark we leave behind. Our aim was to create beautiful objects of desire, with natural forms that feel intuitive to the human body: A razor, a toothbrush, eyeglasses, a dopp bag and a face mask – all everyday essentials that deserve greater consideration when it comes to their impact.

THE IMPOSSIBLE RAZOR

A product that will outlive us all.

Made from white sapphire – a strong, resilient and ultimately precious material that will never become blunt, this is a single form crafted from a 3D printed template that utilises a material which can be grown in a lab.
 

THE MAKE YOUR MARK TOOTHBRUSH

A product that connects us to the land.

Kaolin is found in all regions and countries in the world. Its qualities are completely unique to the area in which it is formed. This product is a story of hyper-localisation, using a local vernacular through which to create an emotional connection between consumer and object. The form is inspired by the human impression when handling clay, unique to the individual.

THE PROTECTING AEROGLASSES

A product to protect us from the plights of the modern world.

Made from aerogel, a solid nano gas used in aerospace engineering, this is not yet a commercial material. Other-worldly in its strength and lightness, aerogel properties include efficiently blocking UV and radiation, making for an interesting eye protection against the rising climate conditions, public health fears and blue light damage from digital exposure.

THE OCEAN WATER DOPP BAG

A fully-circular product that returns to its natural environment. 

Made from Kelp, this is a bag that biodegrades seamlessly back into natural matter. Fashion is a key contributor to climate change with tonnes of landfill growing on a daily basis. Unlike traditional fabrics, this bag can be used a handful of times before degrading under heat and water conditions back into marine matter.

THE NO TRACE FACE SHIELD

A dissolvable product that makes single-use sustainable.

Made from soluble paper cellulose and plant-based adhesive, this product turns a key human essential into something we don’t need to worry about discarding. We explored the concept of how the seal is integral and the downside of fabric concealing facial expressions causes further social disconnect. This transparent nano cellulose material is designed to dissolve under water after use.