iris van herpen x rolls-royce unveil 'phantom syntopia'

‘Phantom Syntopia’ blends biomimicry and high fashion

Rolls-Royce unveils Phantom Syntopia, a new Haute Couture masterpiece created in collaboration with renowned Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen. Four years in the making, Syntopia is the most technically complex commission ever undertaken by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective. The new luxury ride takes its name from van Herpen’s landmark 2018 collection, designed on the principles of biomimicry in which art is inspired by patterns and shapes found in nature.

all images courtesy Rolls-Royce

Indeed, like the fashion collection, Phantom Syntopia seeks to represent the elusive, ethereal beauty of fluid motion in solid materials through its ‘Weaving Water’ theme. Washed in cool purple tones, the first-look images gently recall the lapping and reflective qualities of water. For a truly Haute Couture experience, Iris van Herpen will also design a one-off Haute Couture garment, especially for the clients of this transformative commission.

Phantom Syntopia side view

rolls-royce & iris van herpen: a boundary-breaking collab

Pushing the boundaries of innovation, craftsmanship, and luxury, Rolls-Royce (see more here) and van Herpen (and here) extended the otherwordly design to the car interiors, where three-dimensional textile sculptures capture the movement of flowing water, alongside a unique ‘Weaving Water’ Starlight Headliner. Phantom Syntopia will also be the first Rolls-Royce to include a Bespoke scent, further immersing passengers into the ethereal ride.

an ethereal and elusive design

‘Rolls-Royce has this really beautiful balance between craftsmanship and technology. The way we work for a client, which is a very personalised process, is similar to how Rolls-Royce works with their clients. It’s the customized process of making a one-off,’ comments Iris van Herpen.

the bespoke piece is inspired by Haute Couture aesthetics

A closer look at the nature-inspired bespoke details adorning Phantom Syntopia clearly reveals a weaving of van Herpen’s iconic textile signature. The customized patterns were carried out at the fashion designer’s Amsterdam atelier while specialists at the Home of Rolls-Royce took to hand-crafting the rest of the vehicle’s unique design.