Paco Rabanne & Jean Clemmer "NUES" Book, France 1969
View Similar Items
Paco Rabanne & Jean Clemmer "NUES" Book, France 1969
About the Item
- Creator:Jean Clemmer (Photographer),Paco Rabanne (Designer)
- Dimensions:Height: 14.18 in (36 cm)Width: 0.79 in (2 cm)Depth: 10.63 in (27 cm)
- Style:Mid-Century Modern (Of the Period)
- Materials and Techniques:
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Date of Manufacture:1969
- Condition:
- Seller Location:Naples, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU3221339724142
Paco Rabanne
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.
More From This Seller
View AllVintage 1960s Brazilian Mid-Century Modern Taxidermy
Glass, Wood
Vintage 1970s Italian Mid-Century Modern Collectible Jewelry
Silver Plate
Vintage 1950s German Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
PVC
Vintage 1950s Italian Mid-Century Modern Scientific Instruments
Rock Crystal
Vintage 1970s German Mid-Century Modern Models and Miniatures
Fabric, Plastic, Wood
Vintage 1960s Italian Mid-Century Modern Shelves
Steel
You May Also Like
Vintage 1960s British Mid-Century Modern Books
Paper
Mid-20th Century Italian Space Age Collectible Jewelry
Brass
Vintage 1950s French Mid-Century Modern Pillows and Throws
Cotton
Late 20th Century French Books
Paper
21st Century and Contemporary Books
Paper
Mid-20th Century Swiss Mid-Century Modern Screens and Room Dividers
Metal, Brass
