March 10, 2025 |
Welcome to the LAN party; Coperni’s AW25 show was a high-speed, high-tech ode to the golden age of the internet.
As the ‘90s bled into the Noughties, the rise of cyber-futurism reshaped the global fashion landscape, and Coperni? well it was hardly even a thought in the minds of Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant. But tonight, in a showspace that unfolded like a live-action video game, the brand rewired the optimistic energy of early LAN (Local Area Network) parties into a collection that fused razor-sharp precision with rebellious DIY spirit. “The show celebrates humanness in technology and the creative potential embedded within virtual realms – in an era when digital spaces can feel increasingly isolating,” read the show notes.
Sitting front row between antsy editors, celebs and influencers, 200 gamers and tech enthusiasts toggled between Fortnite and Rocket League, adding to the digitally chaotic atmosphere that formed the backdrop for the show. Then, between tangled cables and flashing screens, models stormed in sporting Resident Evil-inspired leather boots, their looks glitching between corporate sleek and cyberpunk grit. Oversized, sharp-shouldered tailoring with elasticated hand straps mimicked the grip of a controller and zip-up parkas nodded to the snowboarding game SSX. Distressed denim, low-slung dragon embroidered jeans and moto-leathers nodded to hacker subcultures and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo. Headbands – pulled tight like Lara Croft’s – crowned the Coperni girl, as she pivoted through characters like a shapeshifting avatar.
The accessories were pure nostalgia: a Tamagotchi embedded into a Swipe bag, a collaboration with Ray-Ban Meta transforming eyewear (the Wayfarer) into AI-driven wearables. An ASCII-generated floral print turned digital code into poetry, while sleeping bag dresses – with built-in corset boning – closed the show, an ode to overnight gaming marathons.
The fash pack were mere NPCs in this tech-fuelled odyssey. Each sequence was a new level, every transformation a shift in play. Coperni had entered the game, and fashion was rebooted.
Photography courtesy of Coperni.
