THE
COMPUTED CONTEMPORARY MADELINE JANKOWSKI
A
t the intersection of technology and fashion, luminaries such as Iris van Herpen, Julia Koerner, and Noa Raviv are reprogramming the aesthetic of ultramodern couture. These design geniuses are no strangers to innovation, and through their architectural backgrounds, commitment to sustainability, and unparalleled artistic lenses, their works are collectively lauded as manufactured manifestations of contemporary art. Through the trailblazing and cutting-edge crafts born by these women, the world of modern abstraction is redefined and the limitations of traditional fashion design are challenged. Instantly recognizable in the discussion of technologically-generated couture is Iris van Herpen. The Dutch artist worked alongside designers like Alexander McQueen, attaining knowledge of the industry while curating her own individual aesthetic on the way to
74
launching her brand in 2007. She continued to build her artistic expertise through collaborations with architects to strengthen her knowledge of textile development. Today, her au courant approach to fashion and the construction of couture provokes the senses while challenging the stipulations of physical design. Through the use of modern 3D printing mechanics, van Herpen’s designs demonstrate recurrent themes of femininity and sustainability while embodying the mystery and disorder of nature. At the recent Vanity Fair Oscars afterparty, actress Zooey Deschanel arrived in an Iris Van Herpen haute couture dress. The strapless ensemble shimmered through periwinkle and ivory colorways, and the elusive curves and points of the garment transformed Deschanel's figure into the shape of a lotus flower. The star told Instagram, "Thank you @irisvanherpen for making me feel like an art piece" (Deschanel,