Eatons Hill designer Connor O’Grady has gained global attention after creating a human hair outfit worn by US pop singer Chappell Roan in her music video The Subway.
Chappell Roan Collaboration
In 2025, O’Grady was commissioned by stylist Genesis Webb to design an outfit for Chappell Roan’s single The Subway. He produced a bra and skirt ensemble constructed from human hair, sourced from theatrical shops in West End and dyed to match the singer’s auburn hair.
Courier delays left the finished piece stranded in London, forcing O’Grady to personally fly it to New York. The video, released on 1 August 2025, featured Roan wearing the design on a fire escape overlooking Hudson Street. Fashion press described the look as straddling the line between showgirl fantasy and Victorian ghost story.
Early Roots in Eatons Hill
O’Grady grew up in Eatons Hill, Brisbane, where his interest in sewing began in childhood. By the age of eight, he had trademarked his label and won the Royal Queensland Show’s Natural Fibres competition. He went on to secure multiple awards at the Ekka, including victories in both children’s and adult sections by 2013.
His achievements expanded nationally, winning the Apex Australia Teenage Fashion Designer of the Year in 2015 and the Australian Wool Fashion Awards in 2016 and 2017. By 17, he was creating custom designs for the Ekka fashion parades.
From Brisbane to London
In 2018, O’Grady accepted a place at the London College of Fashion to study womenswear. During his time there, his designs were featured in Vogue Scandinavia, and by 2024 he had been shortlisted for the British Vogue Future Creators Design Competition.
Now based in Islington, London, O’Grady continues to return to Brisbane annually, including as a fashion judge at the Ekka. His work often draws inspiration from historical eras such as Victorian, Georgian and Regency periods, while incorporating deadstock fabrics and antiques.
Building New Collections
Alongside freelance commissions, O’Grady is working on his debut collection titled Decapitation, inspired by the French Revolution. The collection explores high necklines, colour blocking and distressed fabrics to reflect themes of upheaval from that era.
Sustainability is central to his approach, with a focus on extending the life cycle of materials and encouraging upcycling of garments.
Looking Ahead
At just 24, O’Grady has emerged as one of Australia’s most promising fashion designers, balancing high-profile collaborations like the Chappell Roan commission with his own conceptual work. He has expressed ambitions to showcase full collections at London Fashion Week and establish a boutique in the future, while maintaining strong ties to his Eatons Hill beginnings.
Published 23-Aug-2025
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