Iris
van Herpen has been announced as 2014’s ANDAM award winner,
receiving €250,000 in prize money plus an invaluable year of
mentoring from Kering chairman and CEO François-Henri Pinault.
The Dutch fashion designer and Fashion Scout 2010 exhibitor (pictured) is skilled in her command of structure; lattice bodices and godet pleats are surrounded by liquidesque head and body-pieces for SS11 that have to be seen to be believed. For AW14’s ‘Indigital’, lean silhouettes came to life with iridescent finishes, beading and luxury textures. Her progression as a designer already clearly evident, Iris van Herpen’s exciting vision is pushing fashion in a futuristic direction.
van Herpen has been cited as one of the most stimulating designers of recent seasons, combining couture craftsmanship with cutting edge technology, including 3D printing. She will surely find much use for the additional €110,000 of Swarovski crystals that also make up the extensive ANDAM prize package; a purchase order from Hudson’s Bay Company, commercial and strategic mentorship from the Tomorrow showroom, an exclusive Galeries Lafayette Paris space for two seasons and two capsule collections to be created and sold on TheCorner.com complete the coup of the year for van Herpen.
By Isabella Silvers, Contributor, (@izzymks).