Paco Rabanne has died in France at the age of 88, Puig – the group that now owns the fashion house – has confirmed. The self-taught fashion designer, who broke into the Parisian Haute Couture scene in the early ’60s, was one of the co-creators of the Space Age movement, alongside André Courrèges and Pierre Cardin.
Born in 1934 near San Sebastián, Spain, Paco Rabanne moved to France when he was young after fleeing the Spanish Civil War. His breakthrough show in 1966 was entitled “Twelve Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials,” featuring his now trademark pieces made from metal and plastic. His designs soon became favorites with stars and models of the time like Brigitte Bardot and Twiggy. The designer connected with the cinema world, designing iconic costumes for Jane Fonda in the 1968 film Barbarella, which are still on display in MoMA in New York. In 1969, he launched his first perfume, called Calandre.
After a three-decade-long career, Rabanne retired in 1999 and has stayed out of the public eye ever since. Rabanne was made an Officer of the Legion d’Honneur in France in 2010, in recognition of his contribution to the fashion world.
After he left the brand, the house underwent a five-year break in 2006. It was revived in 2011 with Manish Arora as the head. The brand’s current creative director, Julien Dossena, was appointed in 2013, adding to build onto the legacy of Rabanne. His signature palettes have become a staple for party girls, like Dua Lipa and Kaia Gerber.
“The House of Paco Rabanne wishes to honor our visionary designer and founder who passed away today at the age of 88,” the company said in a statement posted on its website.
“Among the most seminal fashion figures of the 20th century, his legacy will remain a constant source of inspiration.”
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