Voltage Haute Couture
Iris Van Herpen collaboration
Paris, FR 2013
“A show followed by rousing applause and chants of “Bravo” from the crowd… A magnificent 11-piece collection for Spring 2013 from one of the greatest innovative designers of our time.” – Anna Au Pied De Monmartre
Iris van Herpen and Philip Beesley’s ongoing collaboration reflects their mutual fascination for materials and structures. As a guest member of the Chambre syndicale de la Haute Couture, Iris van Herpen adopts an alchemist’s approach to fashion. She embraces collaborations with artists, architects and researchers, incorporating their expertise in 3D printing, digital fabrication, chemical and electrical processes to create her internationally acclaimed designs. First taking inspiration from Beesley’s Hylozoic Series in the creation of her collection, ‘Hybrid Holism’ (Paris Haute Couture Week, July 2012), van Herpen translated a shared sensibility for subtle materials, electricity and chemistry into a collection that was highly complex and incredibly diverse in shape, structure, and material.
For her 2013 Spring Summer Collection, van Herpen presented the widely acclaimed ‘Voltage’ collection which featured works developed in collaboration with Beesley. Finely detailed flexible meshwork structures and translucent frond components forming the outer layers of three intricate dresses were developed through close dialogue between Beesley and van Herpen’s studios. An upcoming collaboration between van Herpen and Beesley is planned for the coming season.