Paco Rabanne, the world-renowned fashion designer, has passed away at the age of 88. He died at his home in France on Friday, February 3. The news of his passing was confirmed by his brand’s official social media account.
It was Rabanne’s eccentric clothing designs that made him famous, including space age and metallic ensembles. With his debut collection, Manifesto: 12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials, Rabanne gained national fame in the 1960s. Read on to find out more about Rabanne’s life and career.
Paco Rabanne Passes Away at 88

Paco Rabanne, the renowned Spanish designer known for his Space Age creations, has died at 88.
Rabanne was born in 1934 in the Basque town of Pamplona and moved to Paris in 1952 to study architecture. He soon began working in fashion, first as a jewelry designer and then as a couturier. His unique style—a mix of futuristic and folkloric elements—caught the eye of fashion icons like Catherine Deneuve and Brigitte Bardot, who wore his designs on and off the screen.
In 1966, Rabanne launched his first perfume, Calandre, which was an instant hit. He went on to create several more successful fragrances, including Paco Rabanne Pour Homme (1973) and Ultraviolet (1999).
Rabanne’s designs were not constrained by traditional ideas of beauty or functionality. He believed that fashion should be fun and wearable art, and his inventive use of materials—including metal mesh, plastic, and paper—reflected this philosophy. His most famous creation is probably the 1969 “Paper Dress,” which was made from sheets of printed paper held together with tape.
Rabanne was also known for his collaborations with other artists, including André Courrèges, Pierre Cardin, and Jean Paul Gaultier. In 2006, he was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government for his contributions to fashion.
Paco
Rabanne was Born into a Military Family in Spain

Paco Rabanne was born into a military family in Spain in 1934. His father was a general in the Spanish army and his mother was a socialite. Rabanne’s family moved to France when he was three years old, and he grew up in Paris. He attended the prestigious Ecole des Beaux Arts, where he studied architecture and design. After graduating, Rabanne began working for French fashion houses, including Balenciaga and Dior. He eventually launched his own fashion label in 1966.
Rabanne’s designs were often considered avant-garde and ahead of their time. He used unconventional materials like metal and plastic in his garments, which were sometimes criticized for being too radical. However, Rabanne’s unique vision earned him a loyal following among fashionistas and celebrities alike. Some of his most famous clients included Jane Birkin, Catherine Deneuve, and Grace Jones.
Rabanne retired from fashion design in 1999, but he continued to work as an artist and sculptor. He died at his home in Paris on October 11, 2020 at the age of 86.
The Designer Made a Name for Himself in the Fragrance Industry

Paco Rabanne was a renowned Spanish designer who was known for his space age creations. He died at the age of 92 on October 18, 2017.
Rabanne was born in the Basque town of Irun, Spain, on February 18, 1925. His father was a professor of medicine and his mother was a housewife. He had two sisters. When he was three years old, his family moved to Paris.
Rabanne began his fashion career in 1945 when he started working for the House of Balenciaga as an assistant to Cristobal Balenciaga. He left Balenciaga in 1950 and moved to Madrid where he worked for the fashion house of Antonio del Castillo.
In 1966, Rabanne launched his own fashion house in Paris with the help of his friend Pierre Cardin. His first collection was called “12 Unwearable Dresses in Contemporary Materials.” The collection included dresses made from aluminum disks, plastic chains, and paper clips.
Rabanne’s designs were popular with celebrities and he soon became known for his space age style. He designed costumes for movies such as Barbarella (1968) and Planet of the Apes (1968). He also designed the uniforms for Virgin Atlantic airline stewardesses in 1984.
Rabanne’s fragrances were just as popular as his clothing designs. He launched his first fragrance, Calandre, in 1969. It was followed by Paco Rabanne
Later Years and Death
Paco Rabanne was a world-renowned fashion designer known for his space age creations. He died at the age of 82 on October 9, 2017.
Rabanne was born in 1934 in Spain. He moved to France at the age of 18 to study architecture. However, he soon switched to fashion design and enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Technology in Paris. After graduation, he worked for various fashion houses, including Balenciaga and Guy Laroche.
In 1966, Rabanne launched his own fashion house. His unique style, which blended futuristic and classical elements, quickly gained popularity. In 1967, he designed the costumes for the film “Barbarella” starring Jane Fonda. His other notable designs include the 1969 “Mondrian” collection and the 1974 “Calypso” collection.
Rabanne’s designs were often controversial but always attention-grabbing. He continued to create innovative designs until his retirement in 1999.
Rabanne died on October 9, 2017 at the age of 82.