Iris van Herpen’s Living Dress Glows with Algae at Paris Haute Couture

Bioluminescent microorganisms bring movement and magic to her Sympoiesis collection, co-created with biodesigner Christopher Bellamy.

Iris van Herpen lit up Paris Haute Couture Week on July 7, 2025, with a groundbreaking gown that literally glows. Embedded with 125 million bioluminescent algae known as Pyrocystis Fusiformis, the haute couture piece reacts to the model’s movement by emitting a soft, bluish light. Developed in collaboration with biodesigner Christopher Bellamy of Bio Crafted, the algae are kept alive in a nutrient gel, allowing the dress to shimmer gently as the model walks.

The look is part of van Herpen’s Sympoiesis collection, which explores themes of nature, rhythm, and interconnectivity. The glowing dress was enhanced by an ambient runway set featuring light sculptures by Nick Verstand, creating a biospheric environment that responded to the algae’s subtle luminescence. Bridging fashion, science, and art, van Herpen and Bellamy's collaboration offers a poetic vision of living design — where haute couture is not just inspired by nature, but alive with it.

See link
Inspiration by Mark