Iris van Herpen ~ Sensory Seas

On January 20th, 2020, Iris van Herpen presented her latest Couture collection, titled ’Sensory Seas’, at Cirque d'hiver Bouglione in Paris.
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For this collection, Iris van Herpen draws inspiration from the sensory processes that occur between the intricate composition of the human body, mirrored with the fibrous marine ecology of our oceans. The first threads of inspiration came from the Spanish neuroanatomist Ramón y Cajal. He wanted to uncover something that no one had yet understood. He questioned; how does the brain engage in conversation with its counterparts? Exploring our central nervous system in microscopic detailing, Cajal documented his revolutionary findings through anatomical drawings that are considered amongst the world’s greatest scientific illustrations. Hunched over his microscope, he merged science with art and brought to life the threads of our enchanted biology to the human eye. Other inspiration stemmed from diving into the deep depths of the Hydrozoa, a class of delicately branched sea-life organisms. Shifting between a polypoid stage and a medusa stage, the Hydrozoa embroider the oceans like aqueous fabrics, forming layers of living lace. ‘Sensory seas’ holds a microscope over the indelible nuances between the anthropology of a marine organism, to the role of dendrites and synapses delivering infinite signals throughout our bodies. It enchants the attention of how two processes of torrential messaging exist in an uninterrupted state of flux. The collection consists 21 silhouettes that illustrate a portrait of liquid labyrinths, where dresses spill onto the floor in elegant train and pigments gather in cloudedpools of blues and lilac, leaking into one another like marble.

Runway video by Blitzkickers

CREDITS
Press: Alexandre Malgouyres | KCD Paris
Styling: Patti Wilson
Special thanks to collaborating Artist: Paul Friedlander
Collaborating Artists: Philip Beesley, Shelee Carruthers, Duke Morse, Perry Hall
Show Production: SixUp Paris | N6
Casting: Maida Gregori Boina | Maxime Valentini | Caroline Mauger
Footwear Collaboration: Trippen
Light Design: Stefan Prokop
Make-up: Chiao Li Hsu & the MAC PRO Team
Hair: Martin Cullen & Björn Axén | The Wall Group
Choreography: Diek Pothoven
Music Direction: Salvador Breed
Including tracks:
Joep Beving & Maarten Vos - Apophis (Henosis - Deutsche Grammophon)
Kuedo - Bend Moon (Slow Knife - Planet mu Records)
Videography: Blitzkickers
Process Video: Jip Mus
First Look Videography: Matthew Sperzel
Frontstage Photography: Gio Staiano
Backstage Photography: Molly SJ Lowe, Schohaja
Press Release: Scarlett Baker
Illustrations Artwork: Nastya Kuzmina
Invitation Artwork: Takahiro Kurashima and Yanis Georges

SPECIAL THANKS TO
Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode
Atelier Néerlandais
Davy Hezemans & Joanna van der Werf | Spice PR L’Arc Paris
Absolut Elyx, Perrier-Jouet and Vype

[farisasmith]

I couldn't tell where the models skin started and the dress started. They looked like beautiful sea creatures emerging from the dark depths of the ocean. So gorgeous.

[pomegranatemolasses]

This is what high fashion should be. Craftsmanship and Innovation

[milanopiano]

From start to finish, every new piece that walked down the runway shocked me, in the best way, and then that last dress knocked me out. Transcending. This is an apotheosis of Iris van Herpen's work. Just utterly spectacular, divine and glorious.

[GLamoRousCooKie]

This isn't just high fashion, it's high art and high craftmanship. This, to me, is even more impressive than McQueen's Atlantis. There wasn't one garment in this entire collection that I wasn't completely transfixed and mesmerized by. What a genius designer this woman is.

[thetruecookie]

Lets also take a moment to appreciate the shoe design for this collection.

[parcsome]

This collection is really for a deep sea red carpet that we never expected. Atlantis could never!

[prima]

Her clothes are like asmr for the eyes & soul. I keep seeing one and I'm like "Oh yeah, this one, it's my favorite", and then the next one comes out and I'm like, "Oh, no no, this one. It's this one", and then another comes, and it's like, "Oh, wait..."

[ShruteeSenapati]

Iris Van Herpen is like designing the future. Every single piece that walked that runway blew my mind away. What makes it so different is the motion in every dress. The dress can be on mannequin and still look alive. As if she is giving life to the dress. Even so complicated design the garments look so effortless. And vision of sea has been put intuitively into this collection. Its fantastic. One can easily see and find every single element and part of sea that she has put into. Love her.

[bme]

I'm not usually into runway fashion but watching this made me emotional. This is so utterly beautiful. Sci-fi couture.

[zzzave]

I’ve never seen garments that move like this. It’s an emotional experience

[happydayz]

I showed this to my 80 year old mother. She is a former artist who now has Alzheimer’s. She was just in a trance from the first moment, shocked at these creations.

[krisg]

Iris Van Herpen is so ahead of her time. Absolutely beautiful

[therogue]

NEXT MET GALA’S THEME SHOULD BE:

Fashion of the Future; The Artworks of Iris van Herpen

[JhonMongelos]

7:51 they seem like the royalty council of Atlantis or something, so powerful

[Fashionholic_digitalart]

This is what fashion is suppose to look like.. an art. Just when I thought fashion designers has run out ideas, I came across this and I am absolutely stunned. Never have I seen something so ethereal . It's like every dress has a life of it's own

[Itsmeyourdad]

I’m gonna wear one of those dresses on my coronation day for when I take over the world

[chadsperandeo]

This woman is at a totally different level. No one can touch her.

[anoriginalusername]

I am enthralled by the range she can convey. Her reds emanate such power, her white is so pure and angelic, her blues are so ethereal, her blacks are otherworldly. This is an incredible collection and the music is stunning.

[lee-cimj]

These dresses are so visually alluring omg the way they move, blend into the model, how they reflect natural wonders... I’m so glad I discovered this artist.

[catselectricboogaloo]

Hey, I have autism, and I really must say that this is a stim! It's really relaxing and still has enough visual information to occupy the mind