This Dutch fashion designer studied at Artez Institute of the Arts Arnhem and interned at Alexander McQueen in London, and Claudy Jongstra in Amsterdam. She has many design awards and is a guest member of the prestigious Parisian Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.
Herpen is known for exploring the latest technology (e.g., she has a collection of 3D printed shoes) and investigating how to implement innovation into her work. My favorite endeavor of hers is the water dress project. Herpen worked with Daphne Guiness and Nick Knight and they studied how water acts when thrown on a body. The varied shapes were captured by camera and computerized. You can see a photo from the project below. In the end, Herpen created a dress in which she ultimately 'crystallized' water and turned it into a dress.
SHOWstudio made a lovely short documentary about this project called "Splash! - Iris Van Herpen: Process Film." You can view it here.
I love when elements of our lives and our surroundings inspire new ideas and push creative adventures forward. Herpen's water dress is indeed a huge push into the future of fashion design.