Case Study: Iris van Herpen achieves groundbreaking 3D-printed haute couture with Materialise

Iris van Herpen and Materialise in the Wired Pop-Up Store 2012

Iris Van Herpen is a Dutch haute couture designer known for pushing the boundaries of fashion by combining traditional hand‑sewing with advanced 3D printing to create forms that would be impossible to make otherwise. To realize these complex, sculptural dresses and present them to a wider audience—most recently in WIRED’s NYC Pop‑Up Store—she partnered with Materialise for industrial 3D printing expertise.

Materialise produced pieces such as the Escapism Dress using Laser Sintering and explored stereolithography and metal plating to achieve novel textures and finishes. As a result, Iris Van Herpen’s 3D‑printed work has earned critical acclaim and high‑profile exposure—featured in TIME’s 50 Best Inventions list, shown at Paris Fashion Week and museum exhibitions, and displayed in the WIRED Pop‑Up Store—demonstrating Materialise’s ability to turn experimental design into wearable, exhibition‑ready couture.

Iris Van Herpen