Rolls-Royce presents Phantom Syntopia, the most technically complex Bespoke Phantom ever produced. Haute Couture-inspired masterpiece created in collaboration with innovative Fashion Designer Couturière Iris Van Herpen. Two luxury houses collaborate to push the boundaries of innovation, craftsmanship and luxury. Iris van Herpen will design a one-off Haute Couture garment to match this Rolls-Royce. In fact, Phantom Syntopia literally takes Rolls‑Royce interior design into a new dimension with its immersive, sculptural elements, reinterpreting the elusive fragility of nature’s forms in a perfectly engineered reality.”
Chief Executive Officer, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars says: “Phantom Syntopia is the most ambitious, singular and highly Bespoke Phantom we have ever created, and a clear statement of Rolls-Royce’s standing as a true luxury house. Building on two decades of joint undertakings with the world’s most celebrated design houses, artists, horologists and jewellers, Phantom Syntopia secures Phantom’s standing as the ultimate blank canvas for Bespoke personalisation. In collaborating with internationally renowned designer and Haute Couturière Iris van Herpen, we once again redraw the boundaries of innovation, craftsmanship and Bespoke possibility, not just for a motor car but across the wider luxury sector.”
This is the beautiful mind of Iris van Herpen: “For this special collaboration, I was inspired by the concept of ‘Weaving Water’ and transformed the sense of being in moving into an immersive experience of fluidity inside the Phantom. I wanted this to become a state-of-the-art experience of being overwhelmed by the forces of nature. The powerful movement of the Phantom is woven into the shifting three-dimensional waves inside the car to embody nature’s ingenuity. When I met the Bespoke Collective, I discovered that the world of Rolls-Royce is very similar to Haute Couture. Every garment I create is a one-off, tailor-made to my client’s measurements, just like every Rolls-Royce. My clients come to our atelier in Amsterdam for fittings, just as Rolls-Royce clients are invited to Goodwood throughout the design and craft process. On many levels, this collaboration was a natural symbiosis.”
Exterior Coachwork, Iridescent Magnetism – The Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective developed a one-off Liquid Noir paint to create the stunning, shimmering exterior. On closer inspection, the motor car’s bonnet features a subtle rendering of the Weaving Water motif that appears throughout the interior, produced by carefully redistributing the pigment during the finishing process. Iridescent in sunlight reveals Purple, Blue, Magenta and Gold undertones when viewed at different angles. To achieve this effect, the marque’s darkest solid-black paint is overlaid with a finish incorporating a mirror-like pigment, selected for its colour-shifting properties. To add a subtle, elegant shimmer, the team developed a brand-new technique for applying stain to the clear coat. This process took several months, including over 3,000 hours of testing and validation.
Interior Suite, three-dimensional art – Phantom Syntopia’s interior suite incorporates magnificent features which were co-created in a creative and technical meeting of minds by the Rolls-Royce Bespoke Collective and Iris van Herpen. Some interior elements were handcrafted at the Home of Rolls-Royce by the company’s leading craftspeople working alongside Iris van Herpen’s team members. In contrast, others were created in Iris van Herpen’s Amsterdam atelier alongside her Haute Couture garments. It is finished with 162 delicate petals made of glass organza, applied by members of Iris van Herpen’s Couture team who travelled to Goodwood to undertake the work – a process that took nearly 300 hours. In addition, 187 of the 995 sparkling fiberoptic ‘stars’ were individually placed by hand alongside the artwork, illuminating sequentially, starting from the rear and moving to the front; they create a feeling of movement. The entire Headliner alone involved almost 700 collective hours of work. Combining traditional Haute Couture techniques and innovative visual forms, the ‘Weaving Water’ theme continues throughout the unique artwork in the Gallery, which runs the width of the Phantom’s fascia.
The next Chapter in Textile Exploration – Phantom Syntopia continues the Bespoke Collective’s exploration of textiles. In homage to Rolls-Royce’s heritage, this unique motor car recalls an era where a driver’s seat was trimmed in hardwearing leather and the rear compartment in luxurious, inviting fabrics. The front seats of Phantom Syntopia are finished in Magic Grey leather, distinguished by its lustrous finish. The rear seats are upholstered with a specially created silk-blend fabric, featuring a distinctive pattern which recalls the patterns cast by light reflecting on water at night. The seats are quilted with a Weaving Water motif, inspired by a tufting technique often employed in fine furniture-making in which embroidery is applied to the reverse side of the textile. This creates a three-dimensional depth while achieving a smooth, seamless, uninterrupted surface.
Jonathan Simms, general manager of bespoke Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, says: “The result of four years of continuous development, Phantom Syntopia is a magnificent testament to the skill, talent, passion for materials and commitment to excellence of our exceptional Bespoke Collective team. To bring the client’s vision to life, our engineers and craftspeople pushed their limits and challenged existing notions of what’s possible in their pursuit of perfection. Phantom Syntopia is the most technically complex commission we have ever created. It was an exceptional experience to work alongside and collaborate with the incredible team at Iris van Herpen’s atelier.”
An immersive experience, stimulating all senses – In keeping with the highly innovative approach taken with Phantom Syntopia, it is the first Rolls-Royce motor car to incorporate a Bespoke scent, creating a truly immersive expression of luxury. An expert perfumer developed it – now affectionately known as ‘the Nose of the Bespoke Collective’ – in close collaboration with the clients. Designed to create a lasting memory, the fragrance is subtle and perfectly complements other aromas arising from the materials used in the car. The specially-developed scent-releasing mechanism is housed within the headrests. This patented technology, which incorporates innovative materials initially used in the field of medicine, ensures the fragrance is released in suitably delicate doses for a long-lasting, sophisticated sensory experience. The development process took more than two years, including rigorous testing in hot and cold temperatures, to ensure the scent maintained its distinctive profile in all conditions.
Pinnacle Luxury meets Haute Couture – For a truly Haute Couture experience, Iris van Herpen will design a one-off garment, especially for the clients of this transformative commission. The sculptural design of the dress echoes the Weaving Water theme explored in Phantom Syntopia’s Starlight Headliner, featuring an elegant application of the ‘liquid metal’ fabric and the glass organza petals, laser-cut and hand-stitched in a pattern resembling undulating waves. This exquisite garment, reflective of Iris van Herpen’s newly developed Haute Couture techniques, is expected to take around six months, including pattern development, crafting and applying the petals, embroidery, fitting and fitting and tailoring.
Phantom Syntopia will take its place in the clients’ private collection in May. As a true one-of-one commission, Rolls-Royce has undertaken that it will never be replicated.
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Article Edited by Mark Sommers
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