“The living look was grown in sea-water baths over several months within a specialised nutrient gel. In collaboration with Chris Bellamy, the Pyrocystis Lunula algae were moulded into an protective membrane then attentively cared for in conditions to mimic their natural marine home, with humidity, temperature, and circadian rhythm all tuned to their precise needs. The chamber in which the living look is nurtured becomes, therefore, a microcosm of the ocean’s delicate balancing point. Caring for the garment, and for the 125 million Pyrocystis Lunula it contains, requires a symbiotic relationship and redefines the creation traditions entirely, as the garment is cultivated rather than constructed.”
IRIS VAN HERPEN Couture Fall/Winter 2026 if you want to support this blog consider donating to: ko-fi.com/fashionrunways
