In partnership with famous Dutch fashion designer and haute couture designer Iris van Herpen, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today unveiled Phantom Syntopia, a complex, haute couture-inspired masterpiece.
Phantom Syntopia, the most technically challenging bespoke Phantom ever created, is presented by Rolls-Royce.
Inventive fashion designer and couturière Iris van Herpen collaborated on the creation of this masterpiece, which was inspired by haute couture.
To push the limits of innovation, craftsmanship, and luxury, two opulent houses team up.
Three-dimensional cloth sculptures that depict the motion of flowing water are displayed within.
The intricate 'Weaving Water' Starlight Headliner is a first in Rolls-Royce history. Specially trained craftspeople at Iris van Herpen's Amsterdam studio and the Home of Rolls-Royce create exclusive gallery artwork.
For the first time, a Rolls-Royce uses a custom fragrance to provide a wholly immersive experience.
Constructed using Phantom Extended, the ideal blank canvas for bespoke orders.
Phantom Syntopia will have a unique haute couture costume created by Iris van Herpen.
Phantom Syntopia, the most ambitious, distinctive, and highly customized Phantom we have ever produced, is a resounding affirmation of Rolls-Royce's position as a genuine luxury brand. Phantom Syntopia solidifies Phantom's position as the ultimate blank canvas for bespoke personalization by building on two decades of joint projects with the most renowned design houses, artists, horologists, and jewelers in the world. We once again redraw the lines between innovation, craftsmanship, and bespoke possibilities by working with internationally renowned designer and haute couture designer Iris van Herpen, not just for a motor car but for the larger luxury sector as a whole.
Rolls-Royce Motor Cars Chief Executive Officer Torsten Müller-Tvös
"I was inspired by the idea of 'Weaving Water' for this special collaboration, and I translated the sensation of movement into an immersive experience of fluidity inside the Phantom. I wanted being overpowered by the powers of nature to be a cutting-edge experience. The inventiveness of nature is embodied by the Phantom's dynamic movement, which is intertwined with the shifting three-dimensional waves inside the vehicle.
"When I met the Bespoke Collective, I learned how similar the Rolls-Royce and Haute Couture worlds are. Like every Rolls-Royce, every garment I design is one-of-a-kind, custom-made to the unique dimensions of my clients. For fittings, my clients visit our atelier in Amsterdam, just like Rolls-Royce invites customers to Goodwood during the design and creation process. This partnership was a natural symbiosis on many levels.
Van Herpen, Iris
In partnership with famous Dutch fashion designer and haute couture designer Iris van Herpen, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars today unveiled Phantom Syntopia, a complex, haute couture-inspired masterpiece. It is the most technically challenging assignment the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective has ever taken on and is based on the Phantom Extended, the ultimate blank canvas for personalization. This exceptional and one-of-a-kind product is now finished after four years of constant development, and it will soon take its place in the private collections of discerning brand supporters.
Phantom Syntopia gets its name from Iris van Herpen's seminal 2018 collection, which was based on the biomimicry aesthetic, in which artwork is influenced by natural patterns and shapes. Phantom Syntopia's 'Weaving Water' theme aims to capture the illusive, ethereal beauty of fluid motion in solid materials, much like the collection, which consists of a series of highly sculptural clothes brought to life through movement.
According to Gavin Hartley, Head of Bespoke Design at Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, "From the very beginning, this truly was a meeting of minds: two luxury houses that share the innovative vision and ambition to transcend the boundaries of luxury design. Together, we looked into Phantom's potential as the ideal canvas for customization. With its immersive, sculptural features, Phantom Syntopia actually brings Rolls-Royce interior design into a new dimension by reinterpreting the elusive fragility of nature's shapes in a flawlessly manufactured reality.
OUTER SIDE COACHWORK: IRIDESCENT MAGNETISM
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective created a unique Liquid Noir paint to provide the gorgeous, shimmering exterior. When viewed from different angles, its iridescent quality in sunlight exposes undertones of purple, blue, magenta, and gold. This effect is created by layering a mirror-like pigment, chosen for its ability to change color, over the marque's deepest solid-black paint. The team created a brand-new method of applying pigment to the clearcoat in order to provide a delicate, exquisite sheen. This procedure took several months and required more than 3,000 hours of testing and validation.
A delicate portrayal of the Weaving Water design, created by carefully spreading the pigment during the finishing process, may be observed on the motor car's hood upon closer scrutiny.
Three-dimensional art in the interior suite
The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective and Iris van Herpen collaborated creatively and technically to design the exquisite interior elements of the Phantom Syntopia. Iris van Herpen's team and some of the company's top craftsmen handcrafted some interior components at the Home of Rolls-Royce, while others were made in the designer's Amsterdam atelier alongside her Haute Couture clothing.
The Weaving Water Starlight Headliner, the most technically difficult iteration of this iconic Rolls-Royce feature ever manufactured, quickly catches attention as the majestic coach doors are opened. A single, immaculate strip of leather, chosen from more than 1,000 hides, was used to create it. The headliner appears three-dimensional thanks to precise symmetrical cuts that reveal a silver "liquid metal" texture made from woven nylon fabric underneath that was utilized in Iris van Herpen's "Embossed Sounds" collection. Iris van Herpen's Couture team members traveled to Goodwood to complete the job; the procedure took close to 300 hours. It is finished with 162 delicate glass organza petals. Additionally, 187 of the 995 glittering fiberoptic "stars" were manually set next to the artwork; by sequentially lighting up from the back to the front, they give the illusion of movement. The entire headline alone took about 700 hours of labor to complete.
The original artwork in the gallery, which spans the width of the Phantom's fascia, follows the 'Weaving Water' concept. This extremely expressive piece, which combines classic Haute Couture methods with avant-garde visual shapes, has 85 additional petals that were painstakingly hand-attached by Iris van Herpen's crew at Goodwood over the course of nearly 60 hours.
The artwork Weaving Water on the bonnet is mirrored in the pattern on the picnic tables and the passenger panel immediately below the gallery. Multiple coats of paint and lacquer containing various amounts of glass particles were used to create the design. The surfaces were first painted with a black paint that contained 0.9% glass particles. The Weaving Water design was then added by the artisans using a clear coat that had 1.4% shimmer in it. This was a remarkably difficult technique that took over three weeks to accomplish. The Exterior Surface Center team spent four months developing the solution before beginning the work, doing nine trials before determining the appropriate percentage of glass particles. One tablespoon has been utilized throughout the entire automobile.
THE NEXT TEXTILE EXPLORATION CHAPTER
The Bespoke Collective's investigation into fabrics continues with Phantom Syntopia. This distinctive automobile pays homage to the history of Rolls-Royce by evoking a time when the rear compartment was lined with plush, welcoming textiles and the driver's seat was covered in durable leather. Phantom Syntopia's front seats are covered in Magic Grey leather, which stands out for its shiny finish. The upholstery for the back seats is a specifically designed silk-blend fabric with a unique pattern that resembles the patterns generated by light reflecting off of water at night.
The Weaving Water design that is quilted on the chairs was inspired by a tufting method that is frequently used to make exquisite furniture and involves applying embroidery to the back side of the fabric. In addition to providing a smooth, seamless, uninterrupted surface, this gives the object a three-dimensional depth.
According to Jonathan Simms, General Manager, Bespoke, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, "Phantom Syntopia is a magnificent testament to the skill, talent, passion for materials, and commitment to excellence of our exceptional Bespoke Collective team. It is the culmination of four years of continuous development. Our engineers and craftspeople pushed their own boundaries and questioned preconceived assumptions of what was feasible in their pursuit of excellence to realize the client's vision. The most technically challenging commission we have ever undertaken was Phantom Syntopia, and working with Iris van Herpen's wonderful team was an amazing experience.
A FULLY SENSORY EXPERIENCED IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE
It is the first Rolls-Royce automobile to feature a bespoke smell, creating a totally immersive statement of luxury in keeping with the extremely inventive approach used with Phantom Syntopia. It was created in close cooperation with the clients by a skilled perfumer who is now jokingly referred to as "the nose of the bespoke collective." The smell, which is subdued and nicely pairs with other aromas emanating from the car's materials, is intended to leave a lasting impression.
Before deciding on the ideal composition, the bespoke fragrance specialist evaluated various combinations. The primary fragrance is cedarwood, and in keeping with this project's ongoing quest for the height of personalization, cedarwood was specifically procured from the clients' native region. The foundation of the fragrance combines fluffy iris notes, obtained utilizing fluid extraction technology, with touches of leather. Patagonian rose and a soft lemon are then added.
The headrests contain the specially created scent-releasing mechanism. This unique method ensures that the fragrance is released in appropriately delicate doses for a sophisticated, long-lasting sensory experience. It integrates cutting-edge materials that were first utilized in the field of medicine. In order to ensure that the perfume maintains its unique identity in all circumstances, the development procedure took more than two years and involved extensive testing in both extremely hot and extremely cold temperatures.
HAUTE COUTURE MEETS PINNACLE LUXURY
Iris van Herpen will create a one-of-a-kind dress, particularly for the recipients of this transformational commission, to give them a really haute couture experience. The garment's sculptural design draws inspiration from Phantom Syntopia's Starlight Headliner's Weaving Water theme. It uses glass organza petals and 'liquid metal' fabric in an attractive way to create a pattern that resembles undulating waves. It is anticipated that it will take six months to complete this stunning outfit, which showcases Iris van Herpen's newly created haute couture techniques. This time frame includes pattern development, flower creation and application, embroidery, fitting, and tailoring.
In May, Phantom Syntopia will be added to the clients' personal collection. Rolls-Royce has promised that the commission, which is truly unique, won't ever be duplicated.