33gm air and glass purse stuns Paris Fashion Week debut
Coperni, the Parisian fashion brand, captivated attendees at its Fall 2024 Paris Fashion Week with the introduction of a revolutionary bag crafted solely from air. Collaborating with NASA, Coperni, famous for its bold creations, introduced the Air Swipe bag with a translucent appearance. Comprised of 99% air and 1% glass, the state-of-the-art purse weighs a mere 33 grams, equivalent to that of a lightbulb.
Silica aerogel
According to Coperni, the cloud-like handbag is the largest object ever created using the space technology nanomaterial silica aerogel, the lightest solid on Earth. In collaboration with Ioannis Michaloudis, a visual artist and silica aerogel researcher at the American University of Cyprus, the brand developed this innovative piece. According to designers interviewed by British Vogue, it took 15 prototypes to develop the final product.
Unique substance
In 2010, George Gould, Aspen Aerogels Inc.'s director of research and development, compared silica aerogel to a unique substance with acoustic properties, comparing it to the sound of crystal glass hitting a table when dropped. Utilized by NASA's 1999 Stardust mission, which retrieved comet samples, Coperni emphasized its resilience, capable of withstanding temperatures up to 1200 degrees Celsius and pressures 4,000 times its weight.
Non-fragile
Coperni described nanomaterial silica aerogel as the "glass of the future," noting its delicacy but assuring that the purse is non-fragile. Fans questioned the bag's functionality, with Coperni confirming it can hold an iPhone. Co-founders Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant are renowned for pioneering designs in fashion technology. In 2022, Coperni gained massive online attention for spray-painting a white off-the-shoulder dress onto Bella Hadid.
Robo dog show
The following year, the brand collaborated with Boston Dynamics, integrating the engineering and robotics company's robo-dogs into the show. These sophisticated machines served as professional bag holders for notable figures such as Lila Moss. As the season unfolds, it appears that designers remain committed to pushing the boundaries of creativity and innovation, continuing their exploration of the extraordinary.
Blue smoke
Frequently termed as "blue smoke" or "solid smoke," aerogel stands as a silicon-based solid characterized by its sponge-like, porous structure, with over 99% of its volume being open space. This renders it a thousand times less dense than glass. Aerogel production involves subjecting a gel composed of colloidal to high temperatures and pressure-critical-point drying.
