Awaken the Storm

Morning Moonglow through Oak Leaves

Iris van Herpen

Fashion designer Iris van Herpen has created a series of dresses that replicate the feathers and soundwave patterns of birds in flight, and showcased them alongside a kinetic lighting installation by Studio Drift.

Amsterdam-based Van Herpen studied the movement of birds’ wings to create her Syntopia collection, which she presented at Le Trianon on 2 July, for Paris Haute Couture fashion week.

To accompany them, Lonneke Gordijn and Ralph Nauta of Studio Drift created an installation of moving glass tubes that also capture the motion of bird flight.

Each of Van Herpen’s 17 designs combine both organic and inorganic forms, to highlight the convergence of natural biology and manmade technology.

Traditional weaving techniques are combined with high-tech digital fabrication, resulting in a series of garments featuring complex parametric patterns. These range from pleated dresses made from liquid-coated silk organza, to wool coats made using laser cutting.

“As a former dancer, the transformation within movement has hypnotised me,” said Van Herpen. “For this collection I looked closely at the minutiae of bird flight and the intricate echoing forms within avian motion.”