Their creative alliance is anchored in a profound respect for nature as both muse and blueprint. While Van Herpen’s designs channel the intricate patterns, movements, and intelligence of the natural world, Spiber reimagines nature’s molecular language—designing entirely new proteins by coding DNA sequences inspired by spider silk, silk cocoons, cashmere, and other natural fibers. The result is a new class of biomaterials: not found in nature, yet deeply informed by its underlying principles—material stories that speak to a more regenerative and innovative vision for fashion’s future.
Model: Tianna St. Louis @tiannast.louis | Photo: Daniele Oberrauch | Courtesy of Spiber Inc.
Iris van Herpen’s AW25 couture collection features a wedding dress crafted with Spiber’s innovative man-made protein.
"Biomimicry is ever-present in Spiber's approach and that is truly similar to our own methods. Fusing the organic with the innovative, recreating nature's way of making a material, starting with a protein… Spiber has been able to translate a complex technology to meet the needs of designers and create something truly wearable, which is a rare quality.
I feel Brewed Protein™ fiber brings a lightness and a softness that I am looking for, resulting in fabric that floats around the skin. It has a very attractive, organic, and natural presence which is embodied in the whole look. The Spiber team and I share the same attention to detail and texture—the sensorial qualities of the material." – Iris van Herpen.
Spiber's Brewed Protein™ fiber is the only man-made protein fiber to be successfully industrialized, positioning the company as a global leader in biomaterials for fashion and beyond.
The material forms the foundation of the bridal look, where sheer organza is cut in gradient-sized moonshapes and heatbonded to the laser-cut Brewed Protein™ fabric bonings. Hundreds of white coral petals are then stitched upwards onto a nude illusion tulle, spiralling down into a translucent twisted train.
"At Spiber, we believe in the expressive power of materials—their ability to tell stories, to inspire emotion, and to redefine our relationship with nature. Working with Iris van Herpen, whose designs go beyond the physical to evoke the beauty of life's complexity, has resulted in an extraordinary manifestation of our mutual values.
Our Brewed Protein™ fiber was born from the same curiosity that drives Iris's work: a desire to explore the boundaries of what is possible when we look to nature for questions, without focusing solely on answers. This collaboration reflects a vision of fashion that is both sensorial and systemic, where fabrics are not just worn, but experienced, and where innovation arises from a deep sensitivity and curiosity toward the living world.
We're honored to be part of this moment, and hope it marks the beginning of a new paradigm in how we create, feel, and evolve with the materials around us." – Kazuhide Sekiyama, Spiber Co-founder and Representative Executive Officer.
Model: Tianna St. Louis @tiannast.louis | Photo: Molly SJ Lowe | Courtesy of Spiber Inc.
Iris van Herpen’s AW25 couture collection features a wedding dress crafted with Spiber’s innovative man-made protein.
The artisan bridal look is more than a moment on the runway—it is a statement of possibility. Both Van Herpen and Spiber believe that collaboration across disciplines is essential to addressing the complex challenges facing fashion and the environment. Their work together serves as an artistic and technological blueprint for future innovation.
Looking towards the future, Spiber and Van Herpen hope that this is only the beginning. Their teams will explore new possibilities with a shared ambition to continue pushing the boundaries of material innovation and reimagining what fashion can be.
ABOUT Spiber Inc.
Established in 2007, Spiber is a biotech venture company based in Yamagata, Japan. Dedicated to creating innovative solutions that contribute to sustainable well-being, Spiber has developed a new material solution inspired by nature's diversity and circularity: the "Brewed Protein™" material platform.
By harnessing the power of precision fermentation, Spiber engineers proteins at the molecular level, resulting in versatile materials that can be tailored to specific needs. This innovative solution opens up new possibilities for sustainable and high-performance materials in various industries, including apparel, food, automotives, and more.
Spiber is a trademark or a registered trademark of Spiber Inc. in Japan and other countries.
Brewed Protein™ fiber
A premium, plant-based material produced using Spiber's fermentation (brewing) technology, providing a circular solution and pioneering a new category of protein fibers. Due to its plant-based ingredients and resource-efficient production process, Brewed Protein™ fiber has the potential to significantly reduce environmental and animal welfare impacts compared to traditional materials.
Brewed Protein™ is a trademark or a registered trademark of Spiber Inc. in Japan and other countries.
Spiber website: https://spiber.inc/en/
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ABOUT Iris van Herpen
Since its founding in 2007, the maison of Iris van Herpen has championed an interdisciplinary dialogue between nature, art, science, dance, and architecture. Her distinctive creative process merges traditional craftsmanship with future-facing technology, redefining Haute Couture through unexpected and pioneering approaches. In 2010, she presented her first 3D-printed dress from the Crystallization Collection, and by 2012, the Groninger Museum hosted her first major retrospective—her work now resides in leading museums like the Met, V&A, and Palais de Tokyo.
Van Herpen’s designs cross-pollinate art, chemistry, dance, physics, architecture, and biology, transforming Haute Couture into a force that transcends boundaries. With a background in dance, she channels a deep connection to the body’s physicality, infusing her creations with fluidity, movement, and an energy that makes them feel vividly alive.
Iris van Herpen website: https://www.irisvanherpen.com
Iris van Herpen ~ Sympoiesis
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Source: Spiber Inc.
