Harry’s Razor Bar for London Design Festival 2019
For its London Design Festival debut, men’s care brand Harry’s partners with Tom Dixon’s Design Research Studio to create the Razor Bar, an experiential activation that celebrated the sensory tactility of shaving, bringing the company’s ethos to life in a unique way. Part showroom, part barbershop and part lounge, the Razor Bar communicates Harry’s commitment to design to an international audience.
Paying homage to men’s care in every way, the space looks more like a cathedral than a traditional salon, with vaulted ceilings and a reverential mood. Inspired by the rituals that we all engage in around self care, the monastic aesthetic translates these special moments we take for ourselves into a physical space. The brand is also showcasing unique grooming objects designed in collaboration with Tom Dixon. This one of a kind set includes a brush, bowl, mirror, razor stand, and razor, outfitted to accommodate Harry’s blades.
“Design has always been one of our core principles at Harry’s, ” says Scott Newlin, VP of Design at Harry’s. “We are thrilled to participate in the London Design Festival and bring our unique perspective to this global event. The Razor Bar celebrates the rituals that we all go through in the pursuit of self care.”
To showcase Harry’s expertise in men’s grooming, there is a barbershop set up towards the back of the space, offering by-invitation appointments for both men and women. Pall Mall Barbers is providing hot shaves, while Face Gym, the innovative, UK based facial toning studio, is offering their trademark face workouts.
Drawing from the traditional role barbershops can play in communities, the Razor Bar also provides a respite from the rush of the festival, where guests can sit, engage in conversation, and enjoy a moment of calm. There is a dynamic bar program, with branded beers by House of Cans and premixed cocktails by Empirical Spirits, to visitors as they tour the space. To further engage visitors in the space, there will be an assembly line set up, where guests can build their own, one-of-a-kind, Harry’s razor. Mirroring the steps people take in their own grooming rituals, this activity allows people to piece together different handle sections in varying shapes.