Hauberk
Drawing inspiration from wartime clothing from different backgrounds, Paco Rabanne returns to the exploration of metals to present a mythical collection. Our dress, made of pleated organza, with shoulder pads and a metallic belt, appeared as the 50th look of the collection, which was later revisited by the Vasarely Foundation and Selfridges in 2022.
In collaboration with the brand, artist Victor Vasarly digitally recreated 12 iconic Rabanne looks, which were marketed as NTFs, one of them being the ‘samurai dress’ that opens this show. The proceeds generated by the artwork are focused on funding improvements to the brand’s physical archive.
The dress that represents Rabanne in this corner of the museum was the main image of the third edition of the MAM Fashion Forum event, held in 2024, where two models, a man and a woman, posed with the garment to demonstrate the disruptive nature that fashion can have.
Paco Rabanne (1934-2023) was a Spanish fashion designer who revolutionised the industry with his avant-garde and experimental approach. Born in Pasajes, Spain, Rabanne moved to Paris in his youth, where he began studying architecture before entering the world of fashion. His style broke with traditional conventions, combining innovative materials such as metal, plastic and vinyl, and creating futuristic garments that challenged conventional fashion.
