Profile: Iris Van Herpen

Written by Anna Bassett

If you have ever been in an argument with someone about Fashion’s place in the art world, you know the frustration of trying to make closed minds open to one of the most meticulous disciplines. However, this article may offer you quick relief and a winning point, as the revolutionary and seemingly super-human, Iris van Herpen, redefines design and material construction. The 34 year-old, Dutch, fashion designer is changing what it means to use technology to produce beauty.

For many common consumers, van Herpen is not considered a recallable name of the fashion world, but in reality she is a dominating force of innovation and vision. She has won a multitude of awards, being recognized by the EU Commission, the French Ministry of Culture and more, while constantly having her works showcased in museum exhibits around the world. A few of her most prominent designs were even showcased in a little event called the Met Gala. (Go ahead and ask you argument opponent now, “The MET Gala, Ever heard of it?” No? Then end the conversation ASAP!)

If you are still not familiar with van Herpen’s work, she has pioneered the use of 3D printing technology in couture design, that has birthed a whole new realm of designs that could be studied for hours without full comprehension. Notice, to the right, the famous “Skeleton Dress”, featured in the MET Gala ,“Manus X Machina” Exhibit, made for her Capriole Collection.

Iris van Herpen creates an infinite number of alternate universes of clothing with each subsequent collection, by drawing on almost every division of our surrounding world. A few different atmospheres of inspiration have been “the world in microscopic view”, focusing on the intricate detail of preserved microorganisms, “the study of cymatics” or the way in which sound waves can be translated into visual geometric patterns, “the blending of nature and architecture”, where the unpredictability of nature meets a stable structure, and “terraforming”, or the concept of another world that mirrors and reconfigures the biosphere of Earth. These collections are not conducive to the superficial thought process, and the complexity of each is perfectly transposed into each piece.

As a high fashion designer, Iris Van Herpen uses her futuristic mind and modern technology to destroy boundaries that other designers are years from, while perfectly blending the natural and digital worlds. Below are some extraordinary examples from multiple collections.