Canned Couture: When Science Meets the Runway

Imagine stepping into the shower naked and emerging in a perfectly fitted gown. What once sounded like science fiction from the movie The Fifth Element became a reality during the Coperni Spring/Summer 2023 show. Model Bella Hadid stepped onto the stage in just her underwear and, a few minutes later, walked off in an elegant white dress with a slit.

However, the magic wasn't in a trick, but in a chemical called Fabrican.

What is Fabrican?

Behind this technology is Spanish designer and scientist Dr. Manel Torres. It is a liquid suspension that combines:

• Cotton or synthetic fibers (dispersed in a solution).
• Polymers that hold the fibers together.
• Solvents that evaporate instantly upon contact with air.

The result is a non-woven fabric that feels like suede or fleece. What's fascinating is that this material has no seams and perfectly follows the body's anatomy, which is almost impossible to achieve with traditional tailoring.

Sustainability in a spray can?

One of the biggest problems in the fashion industry is waste. Coperni and Fabrican, however, offer a revolutionary solution: infinite recycling.

If you get tired of a dress, you can simply dissolve it back into a liquid in a special solution and spray something completely different from it.

This closed loop could radically reduce the amount of textile waste ending up in landfills in the future.

More than just "pretty clothes"

Although the moment with Bella Hadid was primarily about fashion and show business, Fabrican technology has ambitions far beyond luxury runways:

1. Medicine: Sterile bandages sprayed directly onto wounds or custom splints.
2. Automotive industry: Quick repair of car interior upholstery.
3. Household: Instant repair of tablecloths or making wipes.

Will we be dressing with spray soon?

Although the technology is fascinating, it won't be reaching our wardrobes anytime soon. The application process takes a relatively long time (about 9 minutes for Bella Hadid) and requires a precise hand from the "sprayer." Moreover, the feeling of wearing such a layer directly on the skin may not be comfortable for everyone.

However, Coperni proved an important point: fashion is no longer just about needles and thread. It's a playground for engineers, chemists, and visionaries.

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If you found this topic interesting and want to learn more, here are some sources of information:

• Fabrican Ltd: The official website of the technology. Here you will find technical details directly from the inventor, Dr. Manel Torres, information about the material composition (polymers and fibers), and other potential applications in medicine and industry.
• Vogue: The report Bella Hadid has her Coperni dress spray-painted on live on the runway offers a detailed description of the viral moment from Paris Fashion Week (Spring/Summer 2023).
• Istituto Marangoni: Is Bella Hadid’s Coperni spray-on dress a tech revolution? provides an expert analysis of the impact of this technology on the fashion industry and sustainability.
• WWD (Women's Wear Daily): The article Everything to Know About the Technology Behind Bella Hadid’s Spray-on Dress gives you a business and technological perspective on the collaboration between Coperni and Fabrican laboratories.