In collaboration with biodesigner Chris Bellamy, Iris van Herpen unveiled a first-of-its-kind “living look,” inhabited by 125 million bioluminescent algae that emit light in response to movement and touch.

Grown in seawater over several months and encapsulated within a specialised nutrient gel, the Pyrocystis lunula algae were shaped into a translucent protective membrane. They were carefully maintained in conditions mirroring their natural marine habitat, with humidity, temperature, and circadian rhythms precisely attuned.

The chamber nurturing the look becomes a microcosm of the ocean’s delicate balance. The garment is not constructed, but cultivated - sustained through a continuous symbiotic relationship.