John Harris & the Art of Sculptural Copper Corsetry

John Harris’s sculptural copper corsets take center stage in IRK’s Tribal Issue, photographed by Sammy Baxter.

There is fashion that decorates the body. However, there is also fashion that reconstructs it entirely. John Harris operates decisively in the latter territory.

For IRK’s Tribal Issue, Harris presents sculptural copper corsets that function less as garments and more as contemporary armor. Consequently, the work feels ceremonial rather than decorative. Although the pieces are undeniably striking, they are never theatrical for effect alone. Instead, they are engineered with precision, intention, and discipline.

Each piece is bespoke. Moreover, John Harris builds each piece for a specific wearer, so no two objects behave the same way. These are not decorative shells adapted later. Instead, he tailors each structure to the body.

Copper as a Living Material

Copper is not chosen casually. On the contrary, it is central to John Harris’s philosophy. Because copper responds to heat, touch, and time, the corsets evolve with the body. Therefore, wear becomes part of the design rather than a flaw. Over time, oxidation records movement, friction, and presence.

Notably, these corsets are not cut from mannequins or simplified into breastplates. Instead, each line follows anatomy with intent. As a result, the pieces feel both protective and intimate. They reference tribal armor, ritual objects, and speculative futures simultaneously. Meanwhile, they remain grounded in real-world engineering.

John Harris, One Designer, Total Control

Unlike most designers operating at this level of complexity, John Harris works alone. Consequently, every stage of production reflects a singular vision. He develops materials himself, builds skills independently, and he does not outsource problem-solving.

Although he openly acknowledges the absence of major brand backing or industry machinery, this limitation becomes a strength. In fact, the lack of external interference ensures authorship. Therefore, what you see is exactly what he intended. Nothing diluted. Nothing compromised.

Sculptural Objects

These corsets do not just follow the human form, instead, they enhance it. John Harris reshapes the body through structure, exaggeration, and control, pushing beauty and form beyond anatomy. Each piece exists as a sculptural object in its own right. As a result, the work moves beyond fashion altogether, operating at the intersection of design, engineering, and contemporary sculpture.

Discover the entire visual editorial by Sammy Baxter in IRK’s Tribal issue.

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Editorial Credits

Photography: Sammy Baxter
Models: Dani Race & Charlotte Godfrey
Hair Stylist: Melanie Lindsey
Makeup Artist: Bunmi Ogedengbe
Graphics: Heleliis Tume
Corsets and Accessories: John Harris

In the end, John Harris is not reacting to trends. Instead, he is building objects that feel inevitable. Therefore, his work does not ask for attention. It commands it.

THE CORSET RETURN: A CULTURAL FASHION STATEMENT

CORSET & POWER: FROM OPPRESSION TO EXPRESSION