Iris Van Herpen Exhibit at Brooklyn Museum

While in NYC this past weekend, I stopped by the Brooklyn Museum to view their latest fashion exhibit, Sculpting the Senses. It features the wonderfully imaginative creations of the Dutch fashion designer, Iris Van Herpen.

^{Born in the Netherlands in 1984, Van Herpen graduated from ArtEZ University of the Arts then worked for Alexander McQueen in London before starting her own label in 2007.}

An Iris Van Herpen gown made of laser-cut synthetic silk, Mylar, tulle, Swarovski crystals, embroidery thread, and stainless steel.

^{At her exhibit in the Brooklyn Museum, I learn about her multidisciplinary approach to fashion design, which fuses technological innovation with the elegant hand of a couturier.}

^{Drawing inspiration from the natural world, Van Herpen’s work leverages technology to engage the senses. Her creations are textured, vibrant, and some of them even move with the help of motors. Yay.}

^{She uses a wide range of materials from silk to glass to a stretched plastic film called}^Mylar^{. In addition, she often collaborates with scientists, architects, artists, and engineers, amongst other skilled professionals on the cutting edge of their fields.}

3-D printed polyamide top and skirt. Mmm, those details.

A wall of cut-outs, fabric samples, raw materials…

^{Aside from showcasing exquisite archival pieces, the exhibition also features samples of Van Herpen’s fabrics hung up on walls. In some rooms flat-screen TVs play video footage from Van Herpen’s runway shows, celebrities modeling her creations on the red carpet, and there’s even one of a ballerina gracefully dancing as she dons one of the designer’s gowns.}

^{One section has a table of raw materials and microscopes, through which you can inspect the intricate details of the novel fabrics. (}^{Yes, you can touch them!}⁾

^{If you happen to be in New York, I’d recommend checking out this exhibit.}