The fashion world is in mourning. The House of Paco Rabanne confirmed on social media that its founder, Paco Rabanne, died at the age of 88 in Portsall, France for reasons that have not yet been disclosed:
The House of Paco Rabanne wishes to honour our visionary designer and founder who passed away today at the age of 88. Among the most seminal fashion figures of the 20th century, his legacy will remain a constant source of inspiration. pic.twitter.com/H2ARz41BjY
— Paco Rabanne (@PacoRabanne) February 3, 2023
The also fragrance creator was known for using metal, plastic, and other unconventional materials in his designs that many defined as "avant-garde." He was the president of the fashion and beauty division of Puig, the Spanish group that owns the House of Paco Rabanne, which announced the news of his passing. In a press release sent to the fashion magazine WWD, José Manuel Albesa dedicated a few words to Francisco Rabanne:
Paco Rabanne made transgression magnetic. Who else could induce fashionable Parisian women to clamor for dresses made of plastic and metal? Who but Paco Rabanne could imagine a fragrance called Calandre -- the word means 'automobile grill,' you know -- and turn it into an icon of modern femininity? That radical, rebellious spirit set him apart: There is only one Rabanne. With his passing, we are reminded once again of his enormous influence on contemporary fashion, a spirit that lives on in the house that bears his name.