#INTERVIEW: Reagen Varross: A Personal Approach to Haute Couture

Reagen Varross is a British-born couture designer who established his eponymous label in late 2018 after feeling uninspired by his formal fashion education. He embarked on this journey to create a brand that reflects his personal vision and commitment to traditional haute couture techniques. Specialising in bespoke gowns and luxury occasion wear, Varross is known for his meticulous craftsmanship and a design process that fosters close collaboration with clients. His brand has evolved to focus solely on haute couture, offering a personalised experience that intertwines the designer's expertise with the client's individuality.

I had the pleasure of meeting him at Haute Couture Fashion Week in Paris, where we had an engaging conversation about his design philosophy, the creative process behind his collections, and the ways he builds meaningful relationships with his clients.

Tanja Beljanski: Your decision to move away from conventional fashion education and build your namesake haute couture house suggests a strong conviction in personal expression. Can you share a moment during your studies or early career that made you realise you needed to forge your own path?

Reagen Varross: Yes I realised pretty early on during my university studies that I was not going to be given the freedom to specialise in the area I wanted to or more importantly be supported in that. I also knew through my dedication to the craft that I never wanted to work under the umbrella of another fashion house. I feel like I give so much of myself creatively and personally to my brand and couture pieces that I couldn’t allow that to go under somebody else’s name.

Tanja Beljanski: Traditional couture places immense weight on craftsmanship, technique, and the transmission of skills. How do you balance preserving those artisanal methods with the demands of innovation in fabrics, form, and client expectations?

Reagen Varross: This is really important to me and the foundation of my brand as without quality there’s no luxury. I am super traditional in the way that I create through draping and manual pattern cutting which I really enjoy but I also like to use materials that are beautiful in their simplicities so tend not to embroider and embellish heavily or use lace - I prefer to focus on silhouette and structure making complex patterns combining everything together to make something that feels fresh.

Tanja Beljanski: In haute couture, the relationship between designer and client is deeply intimate. What does “personal service” mean to you in your process—from initial sketches to final fittings—and how do you foster trust and collaboration in that journey?

Reagen Varross: This is my favourite part of the process, I genuinely love my clients dearly, especially as I am the only one at the helm so I know them all personally, conduct al of the fittings and design consultations as well as then pattern cutting and sewing their pieces. For me personal service is whatever they need from me - I need to fly to them for a fitting… no problem, meet them in Paris to complete fabric selection, I’m there. I appreciate their support for my brand and will do whatever I need to do to accommodate their heavily demanding schedules. Fostering these relationships takes a long time and does not happen over night, I just approach each client genuinely so we can build trust and authenticity between one another and with that comes a back and forth of ideas and creative buzz.

Tanja Beljanski: Your gowns often appear on the red carpet and in high-profile events. How do you ensure your work maintains originality and authenticity when visibility and external pressures (fashion trends, media, celebrity culture) are so high?

Reagen Varross: I have always remained steadfast in the position that I will not rush for a deadline if the work is compromised, and I will not re-create looks from different brands for people. If you want a couture piece from me it’s a journey we will embark on together… its the only way to avoid subconscious imitation and block out external trends. Couture to me is timeless no matter how long it has been in an archive so I never pay attention to trends or mass hype as they pass so quickly and don’t age well in the long term. I think the only way to maintain authenticity and originality is to be exactly that within your own brand and then allow time to prove you’re here to stay.

Tanja Beljanski: Fashion is as much about time and memory as it is about appearance. When a client wears one of your pieces, what story or emotion do you aim for them to carry with them?

Reagen Varross: It’s such a personal process from concept and inspiration to the final look so it’s almost like the client is wearing our journey that we have been on together which is a beautiful thing to see. As we know it takes a great amount of time to create at this level so it goes without saying the client and designer relationship ends up woven into the piece by the time its completed. I also want them to feel empowered and confident in their pieces that’s something that has always been at the foundation of what I do.