Magnetic energy: Designers iron out new dresses

Shown at Van Herpen’s autumn 2013 Couture Collection show, the dresses were built out of a specially made material containing resin and iron filings. This was attached to fabric, and magnets were subsequently used to manipulate it, pulling it in various directions.

The idea stemmed from Van der Wiel’s previous work with magnets to create household objects. He approached Van Herpen with the idea of ‘growing clothing using magnetic forces’.

The collaboration is an example of the Microscopic Beauty element in our Lunar Grace design direction, in which science and art come together to create celestial works, particularly by exploring the beauty of microscopic and chemical processes.