Visionary designer Paco Rabanne first made a name for himself in the 1960s when he introduced dresses, handbags and other clothing and accessories that went against the common sensibilities of the time and challenged the public's perception of what fashion should be. By working with unlikely materials such as paper and Rhodoid — a cellulose acetate plastic often used to line baking pans — Rabanne forced the fashion world to reconsider materials and form.
Rabanne was born Francisco Rabaneda y Cuervo in Spain’s Basque region. His mother was the head seamstress at Balenciaga when she relocated herself and her son to France in 1939 to escape the Spanish Civil War. Once in France, he took on the name Paco Rabanne.
Rabanne studied architecture at the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris but pivoted toward fashion and began to design accessories and costume jewelry. Rabanne collaborated with many acclaimed luxury houses — his early clients included Charles Jourdan, Givenchy, Pierre Cardin and Dior.
By 1966, Rabanne was working on avant-garde designs in his own newly-opened studio. He introduced a couture collection titled “Twelve Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials.” The garments — made of aluminum, plastic and eco-friendly paper and fastened with wire — were unveiled at a show that featured music and models of color (both uncommon characteristics for such an event). Sculptural, sexy and solidly Space Age in appearance, Rabanne’s experiments turned heads. Pop star-actresses Brigitte Bardot and Françoise Hardy would soon be seen in the designer’s iconic metallic dresses, and Rabanne found enthusiasts in the likes of revolutionary couturier Elsa Schiaparelli and art collector Peggy Guggenheim. In 1968 Rabanne designed leather boots and erotically charged dresses made of molded plastic and chain-mail mesh for the science fiction film Barbarella.
Rabanne called Salvador Dalí a close friend and drew on the Surrealist movement in his designs. He continued to use unconventional materials in his work. From aluminum jersey and fur to ostrich feathers and Velcro, everything was suitable for his pioneering garments. And Rabanne’s talents are diverse — his prolific output even includes stylish furniture.
In 1999 Rabanne retired from the fashion business. In 2010 he was named Officer of the Legion d’Honneur by the French culture minister. Today, under the creative direction of French designer Julien Dossena, the Paco Rabanne brand continues to innovate and offer looks that nod to the past as well as the future.
Find vintage Paco Rabanne clothing and accessories on 1stDibs.
Rideau d'Espace Chrome-Plated Plastic Wall Sculpture, Circa 1970
By Paco Rabanne
Located in VILLEURBANNE, FR
The Rideau d'Espace model was designed by Paco Rabanne circa 1970. Made of round chrome-plated plastic discs linked by small metal rings, it reflects the couturier's experiments w...
Plastic
Paco Rabanne Electric Blue Space Curtain for Baumann AG, Switzerland 1970s
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Milan, IT
Fashion Designer Paco Rabanne Rare Electric Blue and Silver Space Curtain for Baumann AG, Switzerland 1970s
Plastic
Drawing signed by Paco Rabanne, 2005
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Nice, FR
Mixed media on paper (felt pen and graphite). Signed, dated 2005. Less known for his talents as a draftsman than as a fashion designer or furniture designer, Rabanne reveals remarkab...
Crayon
Vintage Brutalist Abstract Metal Nail Wall Art Sculpture, circa 1970
By William Bowie, Curtis Jeré
Located in Philadelphia, PA
Vintage Brutalist Abstract Metal Nail Wall Art Sculpture In the Style of William Bowie, circa 1970's Artist Unknown " in very good vintage condit...
Metal
$2,550Sale Price|45% Off
H 30.5 in W 39.5 in D 2 in
Brutalist Bronzed Resin Wall Relief Sculpture, Style of Paul Evans, c 1970s
By Paul Evans
Located in Los Angeles, CA
This unique brutalist wall relief was sculpted with bronzed resin over wood, in the style of Paul Evans, circa 1970s. Incredible textures and col...
Resin, Wood
Decorative Hammered Bronze Wall Sculpture 1970s
Located in Florence, IT
Decorative Bronze Wall Sculpture created by layering hammered bronze circles, some of which have been oxidized by time and enhance the patina of the artwork
Bronze
$777
H 14.77 in W 7.49 in D 1.19 in
Ceramic Wall Plaque by Ester Wallin for Upsala Ekeby, Sweden, 1960s
By Upsala Ekeby
Located in Barcelona, ES
Glazed ceramic wall plaque, made by Ester Wallin for Upsala Ekeby in the end of 1960s. Depicting a middle eastern male character in sharply defined face p...
Ceramic
Brutalist Wall Sculpture, Danish Art, 1970s
By Henrik Horst
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Brutalist wall sculpture designed and manufactured by the Danish artist Henrik Horst, circa 1970s. Patinated metal construction mounted on a frame of wood.
Metal
Early Curtis Jere Chrome Raindrops Wall Sculpture circa 1970’s
By Curtis Jeré
Located in Ann Arbor, MI
Curtis Jere Early Chrome Raindrops Sculpture Signed by the Artist circa 1970’s. This sculpture has beautiful patina and vibrant color and can can hang both vertically or horizontally...
Cut Steel
Brutalist Wall Sculpture, Danish Art, 1970s
By Henrik Horst
Located in Copenhagen, DK
Brutalist wall sculpture designed and manufactured by the Danish artist Henrik Horst, circa 1970s. Patinated metal construction mounted on a frame of wood.
Metal
Rare Midcentury Ceramic Wall Sculpture Lovers, 1970s
Located in Praha, CZ
- very nice colored.
Ceramic
$2,350
H 48.75 in W 10.75 in D 3.38 in
Architectural Wall Mounted Optical Sculpture by Moshe Alon, Circa 1970s
Located in Peabody, MA
An op-art wall mounted sculpture consisting of tubes meticulously filled with colored sand, backed with a mirror, in a plexi box frame by the Israeli artist Moshe Alon. Created in Bo...
Mirror, Plexiglass
$850Sale Price|32% Off
H 16.5 in W 36.25 in D 4 in
Heavily Textured Framed Brutalist Metal Wall Sculpture by Henrik Horst, 1970's
By Hendrik Horst
Located in Los Angeles, CA
Brutalist mixed metal wall sculpture by Henrik Horst, 1970's. In original condition with a great patina. There is some wear to the corners of the frame, consistent with its age and u...
Metal
Study of Space Wall Sculpture iii by Dechem Studio
Located in Geneve, CH
Study of Space Wall Sculpture III by Dechem Studio. Dimensions: D 2 x W 77 x H 100 cm. Materials: hand-painted birch plywood. Exploring factors of depth perception such as shape and...
Birch, Plywood
$4,305 / set
H 23.43 in W 23.43 in D 3.94 in
Set of Five Wall Panels ‘Ply’ by Jouko Kärkkäinen for Hkt Korhonen Oy, Finland
Located in Stockholm, SE
This set of five wall panels, titled 'Ply', was designed by Jouko Kärkkäinen for HKT Korhonen Oy in Finland during the 1990s. Rooted in Finnish woodwo...
Plywood
Sold
H 78.75 in W 35.44 in D 0.2 in
Two Paco Rabanne Disco-Ready Silver Space Sequin-Disc Curtain for the Party Girl
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Stockholm, SE
Paco Rabanne Disco-ready silver space sequin-Disc curtain for the well-dressed party girl. Created by Julien Dossena, Creative Director of Paco Raba...
Metal
Sold
H 78.75 in W 35.44 in D 0.2 in
Paco Rabanne Disco-Ready Silver Space Sequin-Disc Curtain for the Party Girl
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Stockholm, SE
Paco Rabanne Disco-ready silver space sequin-Disc curtain for the well-dressed party girl. Created by Julien Dossena, Creative Director of Paco Raba...
Metal
Sold
H 105 in W 36 in D 0.25 in
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain Wall Sculpture Screen Room Divider 106" x 36"
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural "Space Curtain", designed by Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a curtain or curtains, room divider, or wall ...
Metal
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural "Space Curtain", designed by Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a curtain or curtains, room divider, or wall ...
Metal
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Sculptural "Space Curtain", designed by Paco Rabanne for Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970s. It is a versatile size and can be used as a curtain or curtains, room divider, or wall ...
Metal
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain or Room Divider
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paco Rabanne Space curtain or room divider, French, circa 1970s. It has a wonderful patinated aluminum color that looks more platinum or cha...
Plastic
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain or Room Divider
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paco Rabanne space curtain or room divider, French, circa 1970s. It has a wonderful patinated chrome color that looks more platinum in certa...
Plastic
Paco Rabanne Silver Disk Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Hanover, MA
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain for Softwear (Italy) and Baumann AG, Switzerland, circa 1970. Comprised of 1 inch silver metallic Rhodoid discs with plasticized connectors which can be op...
Rhodoid
Paco Rabanne Space Curtain or Room Divider
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Atlanta, GA
Paco Rabanne space curtain or room divider, French, circa 1970s.
Plastic
Original Silver Paco Rabanne Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in Miami, FL
Silver square Paco Rabanne space curtain, 1970s.
Metal
Gold Space Screen or Wall Hanging by Paco Rabanne, 86.5" x 90.5"
By Paco Rabanne
Located in bergen op zoom, NL
Stunning, original and rare gold colored, reflective, 'SPACE' screen, wall hanging or room divider designed by fashion icon Paco Rabanne in 1970 for Baumann AG/ Softwear, Switzerland. An intense play of light, reflection and shadow is created on the gold surface which results in a beautiful organic shimmering effect resembling the effect of sunlight on the surface of water. For an idea of just how beautiful this stunning example would look in a contemporary interior, either as a wall hanging, screen or wall sculpture, please see image 2, a fabulous Manhattan interior designed by Eric Hughes for the tony award winning songwriting pair, Shaiman and Wittman. Which was published on page 92 of 'style and substance: The best of Elle Decor'. Please see image 2. Rabanne's, 'disk and link', mini dresses of the late 1960s, which share the same form of construction as the 'space' series of curtains and screens, quickly became icons of the period worn by the world's most glamorous women of the period from Brigitte Bardot and Francoise Hardy (please see image 10) in France to Audrey Hepburn and Jane Fonda in Hollywood The beautiful gold reflective surface on this large example is made up of 1,564 gold colored, plasticized aluminium pieces connected together by gold colored plasticized clips. The clips which connect the gold elements can easily be detached allowing for a great flexibility in the configurations possible, the particularly large dimensions of this example make it a very rare find and allow the curtain to be reconfigured in a wide range of dimensions to suit a client's specific size requirements. In addition this example comes complete with a small bag of spare gold colored elements and clips. Please see image 9. This example is in really nice original condition. Please be aware that as with all original Paco Rabanne curtains...
Aluminum, Brass
Paco Rabanne Silver Space Curtain
By Paco Rabanne
Located in New York, NY
The iconic 1970s space curtain designed by Paco Rabanne for Software/ Baumann AG of Switzerland. Comprised of linked plasticized aluminum discs. Excellent original condition.
Aluminum