November 29, 2021: Maria Sharapova (Maria Sharapova) wears a reclaimed Evian... [+] bottle made of high-definition Iris van Herpen dress to participate in the Fashion Awards.

London, United Kingdom-November 29th: Maria Sharapova (Maria Sharapova) will attend the 2021 Fashion Awards at the Royal Albert... [+] Hall in London, United Kingdom on November 29, 2021. (Photo by Stephane Cardinale-Corbis/Corbis via Getty Images)

Since 2007, Iris van Herpen has created a series of one-of-a-kind gowns and dresses, known as high fashion in the world. Van Herpen is hand-built with some of the best, natural and organic materials, cataloging what can be said to be high-end, sustainable fashion brands. One of the founding facts about Iris van Herpen Maison is that the designer has only produced one piece and refused to release a complete series or capsule. This spirit has always been part of fashion. The idea of ​​establishing a circular concept was created among creatives in other industries, and the demand for clothing increased. In the past two decades, global fashion consumption has doubled.

On November 29, 2021, Evian global brand ambassador Maria Sharapova (Maria Sharapova) launched an innovative "imitation" dress made from Evian recycled plastic bottles at the Fashion Awards on November 29, 2021. This will bring functionality to concepts that are not far from our reality. "In terms of material innovation and sustainability, a full-scale revolution is taking place. It is really exciting to see these possibilities-in this sense, the large number of new possibilities that are emerging is really exciting. Excited," van Herpen said.

Iris van Herpen, high fashion designer.

Iris van Herpen produces clothing through processes such as 3D printing, laser cutting, digital manufacturing, and electromagnetic weaving. While using typical luxury materials to create production technology, van Herpen also tried glass, silicone, rubber, metal lace, iron filings, mixed steel, resin, and even magnets. The Iris van Herpen brand has enhanced their innovation capabilities through careful research and development. 

Evian noticed the execution of van Herpen and challenged the brand in 2020, requesting a dress made of recycled Evian plastic water bottles. At the height of the pandemic, Evian approached van Herpen on the project online. They seek other solutions to prevent plastic bottles from entering the ocean, and Iris van Herpen often finds inspiration from the water and translates it into her designs.

Iris van Herpen and Evian reclaimed water bottle haute couture dress

"Water has always been an important part of my work. I live in Holland, surrounded by water, and we are all below sea level. Water is an important part of my world and inspiration. I learned a lot about Evian. Continue to develop goals and be attracted by these goals because of my own brand goals. It really feels like we can join our world in a very natural way," van Herpen said of her brand and personal spirit.

Iris van Herpen, high fashion designer.

Evian's promotion of innovation and progress in recycled water bottles (and ultimately marine plastics) is part of its continued commitment and progress to achieve recycling in the plastic production chain. Evian's goals include recertification for carbon neutrality and the introduction of 100% recycled "bottles made from bottles", excluding bottle caps or labels. Certified B Corp also launched Evian (re)new, which is the first domestic water dispenser of this natural mineral water company. Evian is working hard to achieve its recycling commitment to 2025, which includes all plastic bottles made of 100% recycled materials. 

Iris van Herpen and Evian recycled water bottle high fashion.

With this in mind, van Herpen from the Netherlands worked remotely with the Italian team to weave fabrics, carefully rendering them to obtain the correct texture and elasticity of the material. She said: "I have studied the concept of water in depth, not only as a material, but also as a behavior of water. I was really inspired by the way water flows. But there are also the ways it handles light and reflection." With a background in dance, van Herpen often combines the movement of water with craftsmanship. "I connected dance and water in my mind, very seamless. Water is really the source of infinite movement and change. There are many things in this very simple principle—water—that inspired me to start drawing this piece. Inspiration for clothes." 

The fashion industry has participated in the chain of marine plastic recycling in many forms. Solutions also come from other industries, and it has become fashionable to talk about climate change and sustainability. Marine plastics are being converted into usable materials, but the oceans still face greater risks.

Iris van Herpen and Evian recycled water bottle high fashion.

As a member of Fédération de la Haute Couture, Iris van Herpen works in a world dedicated to creating fashion for occasions. What van Herpen created with recycled Evian water bottles started with plastic. By washing and decomposing the bottle, the remaining recycled plastic material-72%-partly mixed with organic silk-28%-forged a unique and unique material that Iris van Herpen carefully crafted a year later-a long design process.

She explained this novel fabric, "I want to enhance this transformation, all aspects of waves, repetition and reflection and dynamics in light. I tried to capture all the elements in my design. Material development started with wanting Achieving the quality of haute couture-it’s really exciting. My real goal in this collaboration is to surpass anything that can be designed with plastic bottles. I think we did it. The quality of the fabric is superb, [and] nylon thread Made from Evian bottles."

Iris van Herpen and Evian recycled water bottle high fashion.

What van Herpen created is what she calls "liquid fabrics." This is an upgraded recycled plastic and silk mixed material, which has the reflective properties of water and elastic vibrations caused by movement, just like petals in the wind. With the laser-cut details in the structural blue gradient design, the organic movement of hand-stitched petals in 2000, and the soft luster of Italian woven fabrics, van Herpen seeks “an organic presence with a true haute couture spirit,” she describes.

London, United Kingdom-November 29: Maria Sharapova wears a dress made from recycled plastic bottles... [+] The dress was made by Iris Van Herpen in November 2021 Designed during the 2021 Fashion Awards held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on the 29th, UK.

For van Herpen, quality is essential to dress innovation and craftsmanship. Her love for water and its infinitely moving properties inspired her interest in recording the waves and how they reflect light. Repetition, transformation and transparency are unexpected elements imitated by "liquid fabrics" and are found in the construction of the dress. Organic sports has always been the theme of Iris van Herpen Maison, mainly inspired by van Herpen as a ballerina trained in classical ballet when he was young. The skirt's pedals tremble with every movement of the body in response to the wearer's movement. It reflects light on its surface, and the liquid luster of the fabric is transparent, especially when it comes in contact with the skin. Obviously, the exquisite fabric of the dress creates a delicate and light feminine silhouette.

On November 29, 2021, Maria Sharapova wore a haute couture Iris van Herpen dress made from recycled evian... [+] bottles to attend the Fashion Awards.

Maria Sharapova (Maria Sharapova) began to decorate such a key fashion, a fashion carefully crafted from waste. This puts a burden on the idea of ​​fashion as a sustainable solution-designers can agree-and the challenge of mass production of "liquid fabrics". Iris van Herpen commented: “Fashion sustainability actually has two aspects; on the one hand, how much you earn is actually how you make it-a bit different from ready-to-wear. Second, of course, the material itself. Other sustainable Materials, whether recycled or organic-as a whole, it is a difficult task for fashion to achieve recycling and become more sustainable. Will always exist. I think people’s consciousness has happened very much. Great changes, and efforts are being made [toward] change."

Watch the video of the "Mimesis" dress made of "liquid fabric".