Stroke Of Genius

From a spray-on finale dress to the attack of the fruit flies, these iconic moments are some of the awe-inspiring highlights from Spring/Summer 2023 Fashion Month

- JOAN KONG

COPERNI

Founded by Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant, French label Coperni has had several buzzworthy moments over the recent few years, but its viral episode during its S/S ’23 show was one for the books. Held in the Salle des the National Museum of Arts and Crafts (Salle des Textiles) in Paris, the runway ended with Bella Hadid walking onto the illuminating platform wearing nothing but a flesh-coloured thong. She was then joined by two technicians who spray-painted a dress onto her in front of the audience — reminiscent of Alexander McQueen’s Spring 1999 show that featured Shalom Harlow on a rotating platform, being sprayed with paint by two robots.

Once the look was “made”, a woman came onto the stage to complete the get-up by moulding the sleeves as well as cutting a thigh-high slit. The result? A skin-tight off-shoulder midi dress that is equal parts futuristic and minimalistic. Unlike McQueen’s liquid paint, however, the material used is an instant spray-on by research company Fabrican that’s made of polymers and natural or synthetic fibres. Once they dry up when they come in contact with air, they’ll form a non-woven fabric. If this innovative technology isn’t the epitome of the future of fashion, we don’t know what is.

SUNNEI