Iris van Herpen - Escapism

If you don't know Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen, you should.  Beyond talented.  Her clothing is probably some of the most beautiful I've ever seen.  This is a look into her Escapism couture collection which premiered during the haute couture week in Paris Spring Summer 2011.  This is her second 3D printed fashion collection and collaboration with architect Daniel Wildrig, once a lead designer for Zaha Hadid.  You can see there first collaboration Crystallization here.  The 3D printed outfits are made out of polyamide through a selective laser sintering process at Materialise.  The genius behind the prints is their solid, rigid structure that appears as delicate as lace.  (Side note, the shoes in the collection were made by architect turned shoe-designer, Rem Koolhaas’ United Nude.)  

"Wearing clothing can create a very exciting and imperative form of self-expression. 'Form follows function'  is not a slogan with which I concur. On the contrary, I find that forms complement and change the body and thus the emotion. Movement, so essential to and in the body, is just as important in my work. By bringing form, structure and  materials together in a new manner, I try to suggest and realize optimal tension and movement.” - Iris van Herpen

images:  Iris van Herpen