The Coperni SS23 Spray-On dress

Paris Fashion Week fluttered by and Parisian designer, Coperni, knew jaws had to drop. Well, assignment=understood. Coperni took the naked dress concept to a whole new magnitude with their live demonstration, of how science and fashion collide on Bella Hadid during their Spring/Summer 2023 show finale. No runway has seen such a performance since Alexandra McQueen’s SS99 spray-paint finale.

The besotting Bella Hadid had a dress spray-painted on her by designers Sébastian Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant. Meyer and Vaillant expressed that Hadid’s admiration for the idea made her their only nominee for this performance.

Sébastian Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant spray-painting Bella Hadid.

Dr. Manel Torres holds the title as the creator of spray-on fabric technology, and the founder of Fabrican- a company that revolves around this craft. The spray-paint contains a special chemical that activates a fabric when in contact with skin. Coperni collaborated with Fabrican to make a blend of their own. Vaillant told Vogue it was their “celebration of women’s silhouettes…” which was successfully executed, as WWD reported the show produced $26.3 million (£23.5 million) in MIV.

Hadid seductively strutted onto the stage in undergarments, before the designers waltzed around her with spray guns, coating her in the white mixture. After 15 minutes, a design had been painted onto her- the straps were dropped, the edges trimmed and the side of the dress was snipped to reveal an elegant, white, off-the-shoulder dress, with a sexy side slit.

The finished product, displayed on Bella Hadid.

The spray-on fabric is a mixture derived of both natural and synthetic tissues that vary in ingredients like cotton and nylon for specific textures. For this particular show, the fabric was described to resemble a suede-like finish, which can be washed and worn again if desired.

Following the demonstration, Hadid then completed her walk, fiercely striding across the runaway, showcasing the piece to the completed product to the audience. History in the making.