Bella Hadid's spray on dress

Dress sprayed on model in Paris - 24th October 2022

Paris Fashion Week has seen an explosion of creative designs from international fashion brands, but there was one moment that went viral: Bella Hadid's spray on dress by French fashion label, Coperni.

Supermodel and human rights activist Hadid came out on stage, where four experts waited in anticipation. Three of them used spray guns to cover the standing Hadid with a white, paint-like substance which dried on her skin into fabric. A stylist then put the finishing touches to the dress by changing the neckline, and cutting a slit down the leg. Finally, after the 15-minute process, Hadid showed off the garment on the catwalk, applauded by spectators.

Following the event, Coperni creators Sebastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant told the media that their vision was to blend fashion and technology through the spray-on dress.

The magic spray is the invention of Dr Manel Torres, who produced the liquid fibre, Fabrican, in 2003 using a unique process. Originally intended for medical purposes, such as in creating casts for broken bones, Fabrican now has a large variety of applications. It's being used to help construct vehicles in the automobile industry and can even support the clean-up of oil spills.

As a company, Fabrican has welcomed its huge potential in the fashion industry as well. The fabric is said to feel like soft leather, and can be worked by cutting and sewing, just like other materials. The actual texture of the fabric can change too, depending on how it's produced. Fabrican claims it "will free designers to create new and unique garments". It will also "allow the wearer to personalise their wardrobe in infinite combinations."

25-year-old Hadid openly posted her thanks to Coperni on Instagram, saying "I love you" and added "no rehearsal, no nothing, just passion."