W Haute Couture

Iris Van Herpen graduated from the Artez Institute of Arts in Arnhem Netherlands, in 2006. She began her career as an intern with Alexander McQueen, before launching her on brand in 2007. It seems she knew exactly what she wanted and went for it. She is a dreamer, whose dreams are from another dimension.

Her style combines creative inspirations in design with innovative constituents. Iris uses materials like Polyner, metal-gauze, motor-chains, synthetic snake-skin, leathers, acrylic and synthetic boat-yarns in which the results have an astonishing visual impact. Now just reading that mix you might think the collection would be a little kinky. Yet, down the catwalk came futuristic funk. It was a very daring collection and every look made you want move. Sometimes this is what couture is all about.

Iris Van Herpen 2012/13 F/W Haute Couture

This season, Iris’ inspiration was a scientific experiment; drawing her inspiration from a project lead by architect Philop Beesley called Holozolic Ground. His almost living sculptures and environments suggest that a future city could operate as a living being in which Holozolic Ground offers a vision for a new generation of responsive architecture.

Iris Van Herpen 2012/13 F/W Haute Couture

Iris plays with the idea of everything evolving even fashion not in the way you think but; and fashion and technology evolving into living breathing things. She sees the possibility of living technology as a future where design, art, architecture and even fashion will be radically changed: they will not constantly be newly made and after thrown away. Yet, become human creations that are partly alive and therefore able to change and able to improve constantly.

Iris Van Herpen 2012/13 F/W Haute Couture

The materials Iris played with in the collection are : mirrored copper sheeting, metallic coated stripes, UV-curable Polymer, silicone, lace, Swarovski crystals, and Ecco leather. Iris also introduced a technique referred to as “Mammooth Stero litography’ which refers to a method involving 3-D printing.

The accessories where also show stoppers Heaven Tanudiredja clutch, United Nude shoes and Irene Bussemaker created the mask. I wonder if this collection is to over the top for Lady Gaga and Nicki Minaj ? Maybe M.I.A. also might give it go.