My love letter to Iris van Herpen

Adjomora Tjon-A-Tsien declares her love to Iris van Herpen

For Iris a line is never a line
A shape is everything outside the box
And fashion is only limited to our own imagination.

This is my love letter to Iris. To her talent, creations and the inspiration she gives me. Ever since her first catwalk show in 2007, she has stolen my heart and has has taken it on a wild adventure. Who needs Alice if you can follow Iris down the rabbit hole, where a white rabbit becomes one with Fragile Futurity, where the Caterpillar is draped in the Refinery of its own smoke, where you can enjoy a tea party in a fluid looking Crystallization creation, and where it is possible to offend the queen of hearts in a stunning white haired Escapism gown, topped off with a mirrored crown.

Iris’ talent lies in her design process. She is curious, and takes her time exploring all possibilities. While being influenced by her close surroundings, she is mostly inspired by work that originates from all kinds of disciplines other than fashion. From architecture to opera design, from art to choreography. She observes, learns, and then creates something that becomes a new kind of language: one that is understood by anyone that dares to look through the looking glass. Her clothes are more than just garments; they tell us a story and build a bridge between her world and ours. By inviting us in, Iris van Herpen seduces with movement, dances with transformation and touches us in detailing. Her creations may seem over the top, but they are never showing off. And keep in mind that nothing is what it seems: what once might have been children’s umbrellas have now become fashion statements. ‘Normal’ does not exist in Iris van Herpen’s world, where it’s all about innovation and contradiction.

Oh, sweet, talented Iris, you never cease to amaze and inspire me. To wonder what you will present at Arnhem Biennale 2011 and their muse Amber, is to taste that magic cookie or funny looking potion: you never know what to expect, but it will always be an absolute pleasure. You are a scientist of fabric, an architect of shape, and, let’s be honest, your work is the true love letter to fashion.

Yours faithfully,

Adjo

Adjomora Tjon-a-Tsien works at a gallery. She is also a freelance stylist and blogger/co-founder of www.statementadf.com