Mary Pintea – News Editor
mvp5879@psu.edu

If you ask someone about the latest Coperni collection, you will more than likely be met with a
confused look.
Launched in 2013, Coperni is a Parisian brand attempting to modernize French style. Their most
recognizable pieces are their solid gold handbags, glass purses—called the Swipe—and now,
their spray-on dress worn by Bella Hadid at Paris fashion week.
Some have seen it as novelty fashion, while others find it artistic.
With fashion weeks ending for the season, brands are honing in on their marketing strategies and
creating pieces that will leave them remembered. Coperni is one of these companies.
In my opinion, if you can get any of the Hadid family members to walk in your show, you are
already winning fashion week—let alone unveiling an innovative product. The spray on dress
can be worn like a regular garment and can even be hung back up for later wear. Designers say
that the spray has been a work in progress since 2000.
The reason why it works? The formula. Small fibers are bound together with polymers, and then
mixed with liquid solvents that evaporate when they hit the skin; moreover, the texture of the
fabric can be manipulated with changes in the solvents and fibers.
Unfortunately, the dress will not be for sale, but that is precisely what Coperni was going for—to
have their moment in fashion history.
Personally, I am unsure how I feel about the choice. As someone who follows fashion and is
always searching for sustainable options, I love the idea of a spray-on dress; although, it does
raise one question: what is in the aerosol? Despite taking a deep dive into the process, I could not
find any details besides the generalized use of synthetic and natural polymers. The dress can
dissolve with water, which I am unsure would fare well in a rainstorm.
What is even more fascinating is that Alexander McQueen—an absolute fashion icon—had a
similar runway reveal in 1999. Instead of spraying on the dress, models were spray painted by
two robots while rotating on a turntable. Coperni designers say that they did not take inspiration
from McQueen but discovered the material while browsing the internet. Considering that the
exploration into spray on clothing began in 2000, I am a tad skeptical about their claims.
Is spray-on fashion a great idea? Undoubtedly. But unfortunately, I do not think we will be
seeing it anywhere besides the runway or potentially at award shows.