Iris van Herpen embraces the Avant-garde with a capital A in a collection where each garment is a sensory and poetic experiment.
Iris van Herpen continues to challenge fashion conventions and once again shapes a collection with a distinctly avant-garde touch, integrating cutting-edge technology with clear sustainability.
Under the title ‘Sympoiesis’, the Dutch designer blends art, science, and nature in a collection that incorporates innovative materials such as banana and cocoa leaves into her designs, reflecting her steadfast commitment to sustainability and her dedication to new materials.
Iris van Herpen has created a collection that plays with a mix of natural and synthetic materials to create a visually striking tactile experience.
Bioluminescent algae provide organic, fluid texture, while banana leaf and cocoa fabrics introduce a rustic, sustainable contrast to translucent synthetic materials such as organza, tulle, and 3D-printed mesh.
The surfaces of the garments combine smooth, shiny, and translucent elements with rougher or more structured elements, such as resin folds or polyurethane filaments reminiscent of biomimetic patterns, turning each garment into a true sculpture in motion.
In ‘Sympoiesis’, van Herpen creates silhouettes that are organic, fluid, and architectural at the same time.
Many dresses seem to grow from the body, with volumes that end up spiralling, evoking cellular structures or marine corals.
The garments incorporate translucent layers as if they were wings, creating a metamorphosis effect in which asymmetry and overlapping challenge traditional anatomy, while invisible corsets support volumetric elements that allow the shapes to appear like real living organisms.
Iris van Herpen opts for a colour palette that ranges from ethereal to metallic tones, evoking nature and biotechnology.
Whites, ivory, and pearl greys predominate, reflecting purity, lightness, and an almost supernatural aura. Bright blues and greens also appear, creating a vivid light effect that changes with movement and lighting.
Iris Van Herpen favours golds and coppers, which reinforce the feeling of sculpture and technology.
Sympoiesis thus becomes the perfect fusion of technology, biology, and traditional craftsmanship, using colours, textures and shapes to convey a vision of fashion in which each piece is a sensory experiment full of poetry.
