Hedonistic as ever, the new spring/summer 2023 capsule from Paco Rabanne and Zalando reimagines the French house's signature codes in high-octane colour
Chainmail, party-ready paillettes, impeccable draping. These are the legacy codes of the late visionary Monsieur Rabanne, carried forward by his namesake label – and which now create the visual feast that is the brand’s exclusive Flow capsule with Zalando for spring/summer 2023.
Browsing the curated 40-piece collection, the most notable element is the searing, heavily saturated colour palette, including graphic tie-dyed effect pieces reminiscent of those charged down the season's ready-to-wear runway by creative director Julien Dossena. According to the French fashion house, the colourways of the Flow capsule “emphasise the brand’s optimism and empowered energy.”
From cobalt blue to shocking pink, punctuated with blazes of orange and red, the colours are rendered across show-stopping silhouettes, achieved through second-skin tailoring, ruching and artfully positioned snap details. The iconic '60s Space Age assemblage mini dress appears in striking pink and white iterations, as do shoes, XL jewellery and accessories, inclusive of the coveted 1969 bag in a mini format.
Photo: Courtesy of Zalando
It was 1966 when Rabanne sparked a frenzy in the fashion world with his debut collection. And yet, despite the decades that have passed, his eponymous brand's perpetually contemporary design and radical sense of craft maintain an ongoing relevance – even with the tough to convince Gen Z audience. The Flow capsule is sure to rouse the same appetite with younger audiences. A spokesperson for Paco Rabanne notes that both the brand and Zalando understand that "inclusivity and individuality are two sides of the same coin. The celebration of fashion is instinctive, and this is reflected through pieces that are extroverted and of their time."
Photo: Courtesy of Zalando
Photo: Courtesy of Zalando
The capsule is brought to life through a campaign styled by Glen Mban and starring new generation talents: singer and songwriter Crystal Murray, DJ and model Dustin Muchuvitz and model Aj Yel. "They embody their creative expression, from underground to pop culture," says a brand spokesperson of the campaign's stars.
For Zalando, the capsule raises the bar once again in its exclusive designer offering. Speaking about Flow, Lena-Sophie Röper, director of designer and luxury at Zalando, says it “represents a powerful step forward in our journey towards becoming the destination for designer fashion. Our collaboration with fashion house Paco Rabanne embodies this direction, bringing the brand's creative vision together with our differentiated and inspirational designer shopping experience for the new generation of luxury consumers."
Photo: Courtesy of Zalando
Photo: Courtesy of Zalando
You can get your own piece of Paco Rabanne from the exclusive Flow capsule collection from 12 April, when it will be exclusively available on Zalando across Europe.