Spikes made from semi-precious stones break out between the heels and platforms of these shoes by fashion designer Iris van Herpen and shoe brand United Nude.

Called Thorn, the footwear was created for van Herpen's Autumn/Winter 2012 collection, Hybrid Holism, which was unveiled in Paris yesterday.

Iris van Herpen and United Nude also created shoes with fangs protruding from their soles earlier this year - take a look here - and van Herpen has featured on Dezeen with her 3D-printed dresses that you can see here and here.

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Here's some more information from United Nude:

Iris van Herpen x United Nude present their 6th shoe collaboration for her “Hybrid-Holism” haute couture collection.

Since launching her label in 2007, Dutch fashion designer Iris van Herpen has become one of the most promising names in the fashion industry today. Known for her innovative spirit and extravagant style, van Herpen stretches the limits of creativity with her novel use of radical materials. On July 2nd she showed in Paris for the third time as an official guest of the Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture.

For her AW12 “Hybrid Holism” couture collection the models were wearing “Thorn” shoes, the product of van Herpen’s sixth successful collaboration with architectural shoe brand United Nude.

Complementing van Herpen’s creations, the shoes combine liquid slow molded uppers and sharp-spiked stones with a whapping 19cm heel and hidden platform. The spikes, made of hand cut stones such as Labradorite, Tiger’s Eye, Leopard Jasper and Moss Agate, pierce through the upper between the platform and heel, creating a semi-precious arch of thorns that form the focal point of this ferocious bootie. “Thorn” will be produced in very limited numbers in various colors, such as glossy nude, glossy black and matt black.

Iris considers fashion as a form of self-expression. Her garments are clear artistic statements that are fused with highly detailed craftsmanship and innovative techniques that define her state of mind. Her exceptional combinations create a sculptured effect and have an astonishing visual impact. It is no surprise that Björk and Lady Gaga are part of her devoted clientele.

Rem D Koolhaas, Founder and Creative Director of United Nude said: “Creating new shoes with Iris is a greater challenge each time. The new shoes have to be better than the previous and the techniques used for making them advance. We race against the clock and fly people all over the world to get the shoes to Paris. The excitement to see her show is something we live up to a long time in advance and is one of our most proud artistic highlights of the year.”