Gu attended the world’s largest annual fashion event at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York on Monday.
She wore the Airo dress, a garment made from 15,000 glass bubbles, resembling a child blowing soap bubbles.
This futuristic dress is a collaboration between Dutch designer Iris van Herpen and artist A.A. Murakami.
Hidden beneath the dress’s surface are micro-processors that coordinate the release of the bubbles. This technology allows the system to operate independently and respond in real-time to Gu’s movements.
Eileen Gu wears the bubble dress at the Met Gala on May 4, 2026. Photo by Instagram/@irisvanherpen |
“I’m literally wearing art. Today I’m wearing Iras Van Herpen. This is so special. This look is all about bubbles, obviously. It’s a play on movement, on nature, and being fun and whimsy. There are 15,000 glass bubbles on me. They are made of glass, which is incredible. 2,500 hours of work, insane!” Gu said during an interview, as quoted by The Express Tribune.
On Instagram, Iris van Herpen explained that the tens of thousands of glass spheres were handcrafted using UV light.
With her avant-garde vision, Iris van Herpen is a natural fit for the Met Gala, an event that celebrates conceptual fashion and high performance.
The 42-year-old designer is a former student of the legendary Alexander McQueen.
She is also known for creating fabrics that act as a second skin, mimicking the organic movement of water, air, and the human body. She frequently utilizes experimental materials like carbon fiber, transparent plastic, and bio-inspired elements through her signature thermoforming technique. Many of her designs mimic natural structures like waves, cells, and the nervous system.
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Eileen Gu paired her bubble dress with see-though heels at Met Gala. Photo by AFP |
Away from the runway, the 22-year-old Gu is widely known as the “Snow Princess” for her dominant performances in freestyle skiing.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics, she captured one gold and two silver medals. This achievement made her the most decorated freestyle skier in history, boasting a total of six Olympic medals across two Games. She also holds the record as the Chinese athlete with the most medals in Winter Olympic history.
Over the past five years, Gu has become a regular at international fashion weeks and major award shows.
Signed with the IMG modeling agency, she has graced the covers of Vogue, Elle and GQ.
According to ForbesGu ranks among the world’s highest-earning female athletes, taking home approximately $23 million last year through major endorsements with brands like Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Porsche and IWC.
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