Paco Rabanne

Francisco "Paco" Rabaneda Cuervo, (more commonly known under the pseudonym of Paco Rabanne) (French: [pako ʁaban]; Spanish: [ˈpako raˈβan]; born 18 February 1934) is a French fashion designer of Spanish origin who became known as l'enfant terrible (unruly child) of the 1960s French fashion world.

Early life and education

Rabanne was born 18 February 1934 in the Basque town of Pasajes, Gipuzkoa province. His father, a Republican Colonel, was executed by Francoist troops during the Spanish Civil War. He fled Spain for France with his mother after the Francoists won the war, in 1939. His education was originally in architecture.

Career

Fashion

He started his career in fashion by creating jewelry for Givenchy, Dior, and Balenciaga and founded his own fashion house in 1966. He used unconventional material such as metal, paper, and plastic for his outlandish and flamboyant designs.

Rabanne is known for his costume designs for such films as the 1968 science-fiction film Barbarella. Françoise Hardy was a big fan of Rabanne's designs. The popular French singer Mylène Farmer continues to bring the extravagance of Paco Rabanne to her live concerts.