Madrid Honors Paco Rabanne with First Retrospective at Real Academia de San Fernando

The Real Academia de San Fernando in Madrid presents the first Spanish tribute to Paco Rabanne, featuring 15 iconic pieces from his early collections alongside recent creations by Julien Dossena, current director of the French maison. Born Francisco Rabanave in the Basque Country 83 years ago, the architect-turned-couturier revolutionized fashion in the 1960s by replacing traditional fabrics with metal mesh, plastic, rhodoid, and pleated silver paper, using pliers instead of needle and thread. His first collection in 1966 caused scandal in Paris. The exhibition includes pieces worn by Jane Birkin, Françoise Hardy, Jane Fonda, and Audrey Hepburn, such as a white rhodoid swimsuit linked by metal rings, an aluminum mesh dress with rhinestone logo, and a metallic knit shirt from the 1970s. Rabanne, who retired in 1999 and now lives in a small Breton village, could not attend due to health reasons. The show also features vintage photographs and videos, and highlights his costume work for the James Bond series and Barbarella. The exhibition runs until June 25, 2017.