Iris Van Herpen And Evian Create A Recycled Water Bottle Haute Couture Dress

Iris Van Herpen "Mimesis" Dress From Recycled Evian Bottles

By Cassell Ferere originally published on Forbes.com

Since 2007, Iris van Herpen has created an array of one-of-a-kind gowns and dresses, known to the world as haute couture. Constructed by hand with some of the finest, natural, and organic materials, van Herpen has cataloged what is arguably a high-end, sustainable fashion Maison. One founding fact about the Iris van Herpen Maison is that the designer has only ever made one-of-one pieces, refusing to release a complete collection or capsule. This ethos has always been a part of fashion. Spawning ideas that build circular concepts among creatives in other industries, the demand for clothing has increased. Global fashion consumption has doubled in the past two decades.

The innovative ‘Mimesis’ dress from Evian recycled plastic bottle by Iris van Herpen debuts on the Evian Global Brand Ambassador, Maria Sharapova, at The Fashion Awards on November 29, 2021. This will bring functionality to a concept not too far from our reality. “There is a whole revolution going in terms of material innovation and sustainability. It's really exciting to see the possibilities - the amount of new possibilities that are opening up, in that sense, is really exciting,” van Herpen says.

Iris van Herpen produces garments through processes like 3D printing, laser cutting, digital fabrication, and electromagnetic weaving. While pioneering production techniques using typical luxury materials, van Herpen has also experimented with glass, silicone, rubber, metal lace, iron filings, blended steel, resin, and even magnets. The Maison of Iris van Herpen elevates their innovation through meticulous research and development.

Evian took notice of van Herpen’s execution, and in 2020 they challenged the Maison to craft a gown with recycled plastic Evian water bottles. Evian approached van Herpen online about the project, during the height of the pandemic. They sought additional solutions to keep plastic bottles out of the ocean and Iris van Herpen has often found inspiration in water, translated in her designs.

“Water has been a big part of my work. Where I live in the Netherlands, water is all around me and we are below sea level. Water is a big part of my world and inspiration. I learned a lot about the sustainability goals of Evian and felt very drawn to them because of the goals of my own label. It really felt like we could join our worlds in a very natural way,” says van Herpen of her brand and personal ethos.

Evian’s push for innovation and advancement for recycling water bottles - ultimately, ocean plastics - is part of its continued commitment and progress toward circularity within the plastic production chain. Evian’s goals include carbon neutral recertification, a launch of 100% recycled ‘bottles made from bottles’, not including caps or labels. The certified B Corp is also launching Evian (re)new, the natural mineral water company’s first in-home water dispenser. Evian is on pace to achieving its circularity commitment by 2025, which includes having all of its plastic bottles made from 100% recycled materials.