Materiality Marvel

Dutch fashion designer Iris Van Herpen is widely recognised as one of fashion’s most experimental, forward-thinking creators. Van Herpen has a penchant for combining the most traditional and radical materials and garment construction methods to create wearable work.

She calls this design ethos ‘new couture’. Here, her intent is to “blend the past and the future into a distinct version of the present by fusing technology and traditional couture craftsmanship”.

She is often hailed as a pioneer in utilising 3D printing as a garment construction technique. She sees herself as an innovator, using technology as a guiding principle, to explore sculptural possibilities and unfamiliar forms.