Paco Rabanne embodies the inquisitive, rebellious, revolutionary spirit of men born in the Mediterranean.
In my eyes, he remains the man who illuminated French Haute Couture with his incomparable virtuosity, defining the adjective "modern" as belonging to the present day, benefiting from the most recent advances, using contemporary techniques, rules and taste...
The exhibition co-organized by Sylvie Richoux, curator of the Musée de la Mode, and Lydia Kamistis of the Union Française des Arts du Costume in 1995 was the first international monograph on this man, an architect by training for whom the haute couture atelier was primarily a research laboratory.
A reconstructed laboratory on two floors, with an experimental scenographic design, tamed by Paco Rabanne and determined by the choice of materials - metal of all kinds, rhodoid, plastic, cellular concrete, chainmail, aluminum jersey...to transform them into spectacular dresses, capes, coats, swimwear, and head ornaments. To a journalist who asked him, "After 30 years in the business, do you have any regrets?", he replied, "No! You should never regret anything! The mistakes we make are an outlet. Perfection is death, creation is continuous error!"
This quote was the theme of the workshop he led for students at Marseille's fashion schools. Paco couldn't conclude without telling them about his ability to travel through time. Marseille, the cradle of antiquity, welcomed one of the kings of Upper Egypt.
