IRIS VAN HERPEN

Iris van Herpen is a Dutch fashion designer that I've recently come across after seeing her couture 2019 spring collection! She recognized as one of fashion’s most talented and forward-thinking creators who continuously pushes the boundaries of fashion design.

Van Herpen crosses the boundaries between couture and technology as she uses 3D printing as a garment construction technique. This blends the past and the future into a 'distinct version of the present' by combining technology with traditional couture craftsmanship.

She uses so many different techniques when creating these garments from hand-painting to laser cutting, and a range of different materials from perspex to silk to tulle - showing her range of talents and how she's not scared to combine technology with craft and take risks.

I feel like the garments are all very feminine, creating optical illusions. They also feel a mixture between futuristic and fairytale like, maybe something that inspire the likes of Tim Walker, I'd definitely like to see him incorporate some of Van Herpen's pieces into a shoot!

the 'shift souls' collection

I think the garments themselves are absolutely beautiful. To me the clothes feel very liberating, the shapes follow the natural curves of the models shape, freeing the female body rather than caging it in. The clothes wear the model rather than the model wearing the garment. They feel like soft, dainty sculptures - works of art, rather than a dress. They also feel very feminine, with the soft curves they initally make me think of something very natural like the curves of flower petals or the way the wind blows.

I personally feel these garments represent something biological and reveal the beauty of the female anatomy. This particular garment seems to reveal a face, which feels quite intimate.

Other garments in this collection focus on movement and how garments look and create shapes as the model walks down the runway. It feels very fluid and smooth, maybe representing the gender fluidity which has become a much more open conversation in the past year.

This garment feels like it shows the way biology and technology is combining, and the head piece makes me think of how technology is changing us mentally, and how online we are able to create different versions of ourselves.

I absolutely love her style, its so unique and like nothing I've ever seen before! Her couture work is absolutely breath taking and so different to the long flowy dresses I'm used to seeing down the runway. To me her work feels very calming and relaxing and I am took back by how creative they are, she is definitely one of the first designers that has completely took my breath away and is going to be on my radar from now on!