Fit Check: Eileen Gu Becomes a Living Art Installation in a Tech-Powered Bubble Gown at the 2026 Met Gala
The Olympic champion teams up with designer Iris van Herpen and artistic duo A.A.Murakami for an incredible tech-couture gown featuring 15,000 glass bubbles and hidden bubble-blowing technology.
Summary
- Olympic freestyle skier and model Eileen Gu attended the 2026 Met Gala in a show-stopping, custom “tech-couture” mini dress designed by Dutch visionary Iris van Herpen in collaboration with artist duo A.A.Murakami
- Dubbed the “Airo” look, the avant-garde creation featured 15,000 individual glass bubbles layered across a sculptural silhouette, demanding 2,550 hours of meticulous craftsmanship to complete
- Blurring the line between fashion, science, and fine art, the dress incorporated hidden microprocessors that released real, floating bubbles in timed sequences—with no CGI involved
Eileen Gu successfully turned the famous steps of the Metropolitan Museum of Art into a moving, interactive exhibit. For the 2026 Met Gala, the 22-year-old Olympic medalist completely embraced the “Costume Art” dress code, arriving in an ethereal, custom creation dubbed the “Airo” look. Designed by Iris van Herpen in collaboration with contemporary artist duo A.A.Murakami, the dramatic, bubble-inspired mini dress blurred the boundaries between high fashion, live installation art, and whimsy, immediately cementing Gu as one of the best-dressed stars of fashion’s biggest night.
Known globally for pushing the boundaries of technology in high fashion, Iris van Herpen found the perfect collaborative partners in A.A.Murakami. The artist duo is celebrated for their breathtaking “Floating World” exhibition, a project famous for turning air and light into living, ephemeral installations. For the Met Gala, they managed to translate that exact magic into a wearable garment. The resulting sculptural silhouette was adorned with 15,000 delicate, individual glass bubbles. Assembling the elaborate look was an incredibly laborious feat, requiring over 2,550 hours of intensive, hands-on craftsmanship to perfect.
However, the glass pieces were only half the magic. Adding an unprecedented level of surrealism, the dress physically came to life. With no CGI involved and everything happening completely live on the carpet, the garment utilized hidden microprocessors seamlessly integrated beneath the skirt. As Gu walked the carpet, the tech released real, floating bubbles in meticulously timed sequences, allowing them to hover around her waistline and trail behind her as she posed for the cameras.
“I’m literally wearing art,” Gu explained during a red-carpet interview. “There’s technology under the dress that enables reality to come together with art, so it’s a play on surrealism. It’s a play on movement, on nature, and being fun and whimsy.” Despite the elaborate mechanics and the sheer weight of the glass, the superstar athlete took the heavy ensemble in stride, playfully joking that she lifts weights so she was more than prepared to handle the load. By transforming her red-carpet appearance into an ephemeral, floating performance, Gu and the design team flawlessly encapsulated the spirit of the evening and delivered an unforgettable Met Gala moment.
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