After being recognized with the prestigious lifetime achievement award at Arab Fashion Week, one of the fashion industry’s most forward-thinking creators, Iris Van Herpen spoke to Europe’s number one international news channel, Euronews about sustainability and the politics that are impacting the fashion world.

One of only 10 Haute Couture designers in the world, Iris Van Herpen’s work is recognized around the globe in leading luxury fashion magazines such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and W Magazine, and her creations have adorned a vast array of top models that include Naomi Campbell, Cara Delevingne and Natalia Vodianova. Iris Van Herpen designs have also been seen in many music videos and on red carpets, having dressed celebrities and icons such as Miley Cyrus, Celine Dion, Bjork and Kelly Rowland, and most recently Joey King at the 2020 Golden Globes.

Since her first show in 2007, the Dutch fashion designer has been preoccupied with inventing new forms and methods of sartorial expression, with an aim to make haute couture the engine of progress in the rapidly changing digital age. Van Herpen is also an advocate for sustainability through her creative process, partnering with scientists and engineers to develop materials and techniques that improve sustainability and production.

In an interview, that will air on Euronews on Wednesday 22^nd January 2020, Iris Van Herpen said: “I think it’s a very exciting time we live in. Fashion is becoming much more inclusive, much more open minded, much more democratic, much more diverse, much more sustainable, which is really important as well. It’s especially on the sustainability side, still, a lot needs to happen… I’m working together with scientist, biologist, architects and artist to improve the way I make fashion so the techniques are being reinvented and also the materials we are often creating ourselves. So, trying to reduce the footprint.” (sic)

Van Herpen also spoke to Euronews about the crossover between fashion and politics in light of several European countries enforcing a burka ban. Asked whether someone should be dictating whether you can or cannot wear something she said on behalf of her label: “I find it so difficult. My own label is not meant to express any political messages because I feel there is too much to say, and in the end, it’s all very temporary. And within my own label, I try to create things that are much more timeless. I really like looking at my work from a bird’s eye perspective.” (sic)

Speaking about her personal views she commented: “My work is all about freedom. And I think we should all be able to express ourselves the way we feel, to be able to express our own identity and to be creative in that. I think anybody should be able to wear what they want.” (sic)

The full interview that took place at Dubai’s most recent Arab Fashion Week is exclusive to Euronews and will air on the Euronews channel and on the Destination Dubai tab on Euronews.com on Wednesday 22^nd January 2020.  https://www.euronews.com/special/destination-dubai

Euronews is Europe’s number one international news channel, currently delivering 24/7 news to almost 400 million TV households in 160 countries. Euronews reaches 137million people every month and is available in 12 distinct language editions and has a strong presence on digital platforms.