Case Study: Iris Van Herpen unveils living 3D‑printed "Hybrid Holism" couture at Paris Fashion Week with Materialise

Iris Van Herpen’s “Hybrid Holism” Unveiled at Paris Fashion Week

Iris Van Herpen partnered with Materialise to realize the “Hybrid Holism” collection for Paris haute couture week, tasked with creating a 3D‑printed dress that would evoke a “living” connection between human design and natural systems. Materialise supported the project using stereolithography 3D‑printing techniques to translate Van Herpen’s biomimetic vision into wearable sculpture.

Materialise produced the intricate 3D‑printed pieces that debuted at Paris Fashion Week—one garment was even likened to “liquid honey”—marking Van Herpen and Materialise’s third appearance on the Paris catwalk. The collaboration delivered high-profile runway exposure and critical acclaim, building on prior successful Materialise collaborations and the broader recognition of Van Herpen’s 3D‑printed work (including TIME’s 2011 “50 Best Inventions”), while demonstrating Materialise’s capability to execute complex couture 3D printing.

Iris Van Herpen

Iris Van Herpen

Iris Van Herpen