Close collaborators with the brand since 1999, Swarovski was the perfect partner for the dynamic Dutch design duo to mark a quarter century in the fashion industry in sparkling style. Using over half a million new and upcycled crystals, Viktor Horsting and Rolf Snoeren sent out a series of their most iconic prêt-à-porter and haute couture runway looks, which had been painstakingly recrafted in their Amsterdam ateliers in pure white fabrics and finishes

Recreated looks from past Swarovski collaborations included the crystal fringed ‘No’ coat from Fall/Winter 2008, the ‘I Love You’ gown, and a crystal studded bed-set look from the Fall/Winter 2005 ‘Bedtime Stories’ show. Other playful highlights included a cut-out tulle gown from Spring/Summer 2010, and a crystal pinstripe suit from the ‘Shirt Symphony’ Spring/Summer 2011 collection. The show closed with a bold shouldered coat from the now legendary Fall/Winter 1999 ‘Russian Doll’ collection, covered with shimmering crystal transfers.  

Since their first collaboration in 1999, the fashion mavericks have integrated Swarovski crystal into their clothing and accessories as a key design element, and have also worked with Atelier Swarovski on a series of jewelry and accessories collaborations, including the innovative flocked crystal ‘Velvet Rock’ collection.  

If all of this has made you catch the Viktor & Rolf bug, you can head to the Kunsthal in Rotterdam to check out the Swarovski-supported retrospective, ‘Fashion Artists 25 Years’, curated by Thierry-Maxime Loriot. Cutting a colorful cross section through their career in ‘wearable art’, it’s certainly one not to miss.