HELIX NEBULA

In collaboration with plasma specialist Mundy Hepburn and glass artist Marc Barreda, Iris van Herpen unveiled the "Helix Nebula" dress, a garment that channels the energy of plasma - the fourth state of matter.

Floating lunar forms of hand-blown glass, infused with plasma, respond to human touch. Surrounding the plasma artwork, 10,000 hand-blown glass spheres graduate in size, seamlessly bonded to illusion tulle with UV light. As the dress is worn, the body becomes a conductor, momentarily joining the plasma's electromagnetic system.

Rare on Earth yet constituting more than 99 percent of the visible universe, plasma forms the Sun, the stars, and glowing nebulae. With the Helix Nebula dress, this elemental force enters the realm of Haute Couture for the first time.

“For years, I have been drawn to the idea of creating a garment woven from energy alone. We have shaped couture through solids, liquids, living matter and even gas. This is the first time we have worked with the fourth state of matter, plasma. Glass and tulle still hold it to the earth, but we are one step closer to couture that exists as atmosphere alone.”
~ Iris van Herpen