Speak the name Iris Van Herpen to any fashionista and they’ll usually respond with a breathy soliloquy on the inspiring possibilities of fashion as art. Despite not being a brand everyone is familiar with, the Belgian designer has very much carved her own path in this arena since her brand’s launch in 2007, and chances are, even if you haven’t heard of her, you would’ve seen her work somewhere, which is why we’re super excited that come November 6, ten of her incredible pieces are coming to The Cartel, Dubai – along with the woman herself.
Iris Van Herpen has collaborated with a spectrum of musicians, choreographers and architects; from Lady Gaga and Beyonce to Nanine Linning and Benajmin Millepied (Natalie Portman’s beau). For her, clearly, boundaries should be blurred – no discipline is an island.
Exhibiting at conceptual art space, The Cartel Showroom on Alserkal Avenue, Van Herpen’s inimitable creations from her Voltage and Crystallization projects will be on display – a striking cross-section of the kind of architectural, wearable art she’s famed for. Creating theatre on the catwalk in the same way as Hussein Chalayan, Margiela, or even Gareth Pugh, but with her own technological spin, her unique science-meets-style approach has seen her win both the prestigious Vogue ANDAM Award as well as the Dutch Design Award. It’s hardly surprising, not only are her pieces quite breathtaking, standing on their own as incredible pieces of sculpture, but they also come to life once on the body with movement always having been one of Van Herpen’s focus points. Having now jumped aboard the 3D printing bandwagon, she’s continuing to push the boundaries of fashion, fusing it with nature, art and now technology.
In suitably pioneering fashion, she will also be offering to make special haute couture pieces to customers out here – a first for the region. After all, objet d’art they might be, but what’s fashion unless it’s being worn?
Images: Getty and Instagram
Main Image: Iris Van Herpen
