Coperni has but to determine what number of RLP Swipe Luggage will likely be put into manufacturing, however for Meyer, beginning a dialog round these improvements is extra essential than instant business success. “It’s about subtly enhancing our lives in ways in which really feel pure. In ways in which aren’t essentially apparent, however impactful,” he says. “Above all, I need to use the present to platform scientists and applied sciences that might make the business higher.”
This is not Coperni’s first foray into viral, tech-driven trend improvements. The model first gained worldwide recognition for its internet-breaking “spray-on dress,” which captivated audiences at Paris Vogue Week in 2022.
Constituted of a liquid cloth referred to as Fabrican, it was sprayed instantly onto supermodel Bella Hadid’s physique, solidifying upon contact to type a wearable garment. The costume generated greater than $22 million in earned media worth, however many ignored the deeper message behind its creation. Past its visible spectacle, the spray-on costume was a sustainable innovation—mechanically cleanable, re-liquefiable, and reusable.
“We see it as our mission to push the boundaries of what’s potential in trend,” says Meyer. “A designer’s responsibility is to enhance and discover new options, not only for aesthetics, however for practicality and sustainability.”
Their iconic Swipe Bag (impressed by the ‘swipe to unlock’ icon of an iPhone) has change into a platform for scientific experimentation. The founders constantly push new frontiers in sustainability and wearability every season. Earlier collaborations embody a undertaking with professor Ioannis Michaloudis from the American College of Cyprus, to create a bag produced from aerogel—a barely-there materials that’s 99 p.c air, can face up to temperatures as much as 1,300°C (2,372°F), and was beforehand utilized in house by Nasa to catch interstellar mud.
Sci-Fi Vogue
On the core of those improvements is Meyer’s love for science fiction. As a self-proclaimed “geek,” he attracts inspiration from sci-fi’s imaginative worlds, which regularly function blueprints for future expertise. Final season’s Coperni assortment was an ode to the style, that includes references to iconic sci-fi movies corresponding to Star Wars, Dune, and The Matrix.
However, for the model, trend isn’t nearly creating visually gorgeous items, it’s about constructing worlds that assist the viewers visualize the longer term, making it one step realer within the course of. “It’s stunning how typically you are able to do one thing that’s unfamiliar or unknown, however when there’s emotion, folks react effectively to new concepts,” says Vaillant.
In an period the place AI advances repeatedly outpace public understanding, manufacturers corresponding to Coperni and visionaries like Walt Disney are a reminder that the actual magic occurs when creativeness and innovation are mixed, after which expertise brings these goals to life.