REF:CVC180401241.PFR0826
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Condition A:Vintage-Preowned, circa 1966-1970s, by PACO RABANNE, meticulously handmade in his Parisian Atelier in the 9th arrondissement. It is a collector piece, never been worn, still has its tag. A very rare, legendary, avant-garde, architectural rhodoid futuristic crop top in beige-transparent circular discs and and with black crosses. In very good condition with slight signs of wear. Signed on an oval plate at rear PACO RABANNE PARIS, the two metal snap fasteners are signed “FIOCCHI ITALY” Paco Rabanne used them from 1960s until 1970s. Also signed on the tag PACO RABANNE FAIT MAIN – HAND MADE. Delivered with a transparent clothe cover protection.
Brand: PACO RABANNE
Designer: PACO RABANNE
Type of Product: Vintage Runway Couture Top
Size: Small 38-40 – Waist 90 cm x Chest 84 cm x Shoulder Width 40 cm x Sleeveless 21 cm x Full size open 90 cm.
Material: Metal and rhodoid-plastic discs
Place of Origin: Made in France
Date of manufacture: Circa 1970s
Colour: Black & off-white/cream
Return: This sale is final and not eligible for return unless otherwise stated in this description. Customs duties & tax charges are the buyer’s responsibility and not including on the shipping fees – Read our Returns & Refunds Conditions
Our Vintage Selection: You can buy from Chelsea Vintage Couture with total confidence. All of the items that we are selling are original and authentic with known provenance. We specialise in rare and unique pieces from private collections and discerning individual owners. Should you choose to buy from Chelsea Vintage Couture you can be assured that we are describing each and every item in a fully transparent and detailed manner. Please note we do not list any items with photoshopped / re-touched images. Should you need more photos or video before buying, please contact us.
Delivery: Free collection in Chelsea, London – FREE DELIVERY in the UK for some goods qualify for FREE Standard Delivery – we ship immediately in the UK by overnight delivery. Shipping worldwide the following day after 2pm, the delivery will take 2 to 7 days depending on where you are located abroad – Customs duties & tax charges are the buyer’s responsibility.
Read our detailed expert description
This is a stunning and rare, collector vintage Paco Rabanne circular flat rhodoid discs DIY crop top featuring interlocking plastic “pastilles’ rhodoid discs intricately linked together by small metal jump rings to create a fluid, futuristic chainmail silhouette. This stunning piece was meticulously, handmade by Paco Rabanne in his atelier in Paris 9th. It is a sleeveless crop top constructed entirely without fabric, in cream/beige-coloured, circular plastic discs (pastilles) linked together with small metal jump rings. Each disc is accented with an intersecting black-and-white cross/plus pattern, giving the top a distinct graphic, geometric motif. To create a beautiful silhouette, this top has wide shoulder straps, a plunging V-neckline, and a cropped, straight-cut hemline typical of Space Age fashion styles. Fastening at rear with two metal snap signed “FIOCCHI ITALY” Paco Rabanne used them from 1960s until 1970s. Also signed on the tag PACO RABANNE FAIT MAIN – HAND MADE. This archival piece has never been worn and still has its tag because it belonged to a collector. A “Must-Have” a rare archival iconic top, collectible from PACO RABANNE for a stunning spacey look for parties and or to collect!
The Story Behind: PACO RABANNE 1934-2023
Paco Rabanne was a Franco Spanish fashion designer and he fled to France after his father’s death under the Franco regime. Paco Rabanne was well known on the fashion world in the 1960s for his futuristic and spacey clothing, pioneered space-age fashion using metal, plastic and chainmail. He launched his label in 1966 and built a massive global perfume empire. In the 1990s, he also distinguished himself in the media through his eccentricity and through predictions (which turned out to be false) and accounts of his alleged past lives.
Paco Rabanne’s legendary tops are avant-garde, architectural garments meticulously handcrafted from a mosaic of metallic or rhodoid discs intricately linked together by small metal rings to create a fluid, futuristic chainmail silhouette.
In fashion history and garment construction, the technique Paco Rabanne used to create tops from flat discs is known as disc chainmail (or assemblage). Instead of weaving traditional wire rings, flat geometric discs (made of plastic, metal, or rhodoïd) are punched with holes at their edges and linked together using small metallic split rings or jump rings to create a flexible, fluid fabric that moves with the body.
1960s – 1970s : Paco Rabanne began incorporating industrial hardware, metal elements, and heavy-duty fasteners into his avant-garde fashion and accessories starting with his landmark 1966 debut collection, “12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials”. He sourced specialised structural hardware, rivets, and metal snaps from industrial and high-grade Italian manufacturers like Fiocchi Italy throughout the late 1960s and 1970s to construct his signature Space Age metal-and-leather garments.
