Iris van Herpen: Transforming Fashion

Iris van Herpen’s bold creations have been at the forefront of experimentation and collaboration. She has earned international acclaim for her extraordinary shapes that use innovative materials, from metal umbrella ribs to magnets, and by working with leading architects, engineers and scientists, placing her at the edge of new technologies.

Past collaborations include her work with one of Canada’s most forward-thinking architects, Philip Beesley. Sharing a mutual fascination for materials and structures, van Herpen and Beesley have influenced and contributed to one another’s work to push the boundaries of design and how we think about it.

The Dome dress was inspired by air and designed with innovative materials to produce an intricate silhouette that floats around the body like a wondrous silver cloud. Made in collaboration with Philip Beesley, this incredibly light dress was created using delicate and voluminous laser-cut metal lace that was then hand-molded into three-dimensional domes. With nature as van Herpen’s other muse, the rose-like domes mimic bubbles of air reflecting light and billowing around the body, producing the airy, weightless movement of the Dome dress.

See this stunning design and special collaborative piece in the exhibition.