At this year’s fall fashion gala, the New York City Ballet brought together movement, music, and couture in a spectacle that fused technology with nature. The world premiere of Foreseeable Future—a new work by choreographer Jamar Roberts, with music by Venezuelan artist Arca—featured Iris Van Herpen designs that redefined what ballet costumes can be. The gala took place on October 8th, 2025, continuing the company’s celebrated tradition of pairing visionary designers with groundbreaking choreographers.
Iris Van Herpen designs for the future of ballet
Known for merging craftsmanship with cutting-edge innovation, the Dutch couturier approached the project as both a designer and a former dancer. Her ballet costumes—created for two contrasting ensembles symbolizing “chaos” and “calm”—embodied Roberts’ exploration of the tension between the natural world and the accelerating pace of technology.
For the “calm” troupe, Van Herpen reinterpreted her signature honeycomb technique from her Spring 2025 haute couture collection, using ultra-light Japanese fabrics layered to create fluid, ethereal silhouettes that seemed to hover around the dancers as they moved. In contrast, the “chaos” dancers wore reflective, metallic costumes that captured light like liquid steel—suggesting the alien beauty and danger of digital evolution.
Ballet costumes as living sculpture
Working closely with NYCB’s Director of Costumes, Marc Happel, Van Herpen employed advanced techniques—3D printing, laser cutting, and digital patternmaking—to bring her sculptural vision to life. Happel noted that Van Herpen’s approach has “pushed costume construction into the 21st century,” introducing the precision of computer-generated design into an art form often defined by tradition.
The spirit of the fall fashion gala
Since its inception in 2012, the fall fashion gala has united fashion’s most forward-thinking creators with leading choreographers. Conceived by Sarah Jessica Parker, the event celebrates the intersection of design and performance, where couture meets kinetic expression.
This year’s program reflected that ethos perfectly: alongside Foreseeable Future, audiences also revisited William Forsythe’s Herman Schmerman Pas de Deux, featuring Gianni Versace’s iconic costumes, and Gianna Reisen’s Composer’s Holiday, originally styled by Virgil Abloh. The evening reaffirmed the gala’s reputation as one of the most compelling cross-disciplinary stages in contemporary culture.
