Very Rare 1996 Paco Rabanne Complete Gold Disc Dress Kit in Original 'Suitcase'

Very Rare 1996 Paco Rabanne Complete Gold Disc Dress Kit in Original 'Suitcase'

The Shrimpton Couture Archives

This is a very rare round Rabanne disc dress set that was issued in 1996 as a kit.
Rabanne was quoted in 1966 to have said, "I defy anyone to design a hat, coat or dress that hasn't been done before...The only new frontier left in fashion is the finding of new materials" and so he began to design a range of dresses using plastics, metals and alloys.
The kit comes complete with all the disks and links needed to make the dress pictured here. It includes instructions and pliers.
Everything comes in its own little Paco Rabanne suitcase. This one was taped shut and never used.
These kits were the epitome of his "rebellion" against traditional fashion and are very hard to come by in their original state.
The discs are silver metallic finished plastic and the rings are a gold metal.
The kit is said to contain 750 discs, 1300 rings, the Paco Rabanne metal logo tag and two pliers. I carefully slid the tape that was holding it closed and checked and everything seems to be present.
From the best of what I can research these kits were issued in 1996. I have been told and heard accounts that there are earlier kits but the only verifiable account I can find is the 1996 references as the only real release of these kits. From what I have been able to find I don't believe that these kits where even issued at all prior to that despite what you might read here and there. So this is being sold as that. If I am wrong and its earlier then you are getting an even better bargain.
I see a minor stress crack on the side of the suitcase that does not go all the way through nor does it harm the cases function. Once it was un-taped the latch doesn't seem to catch properly so I will add tape back before it is shipped.
The resulting dress this kit makes is similar to the ones pictured here and I believe that it will end up a size 4-6 from the research I have done and you can adjust it down by adding less discs. You can also create your own pattern if you were feeling creative.
This is a very rare piece of Paco Rabanne history
Excellent condition

Reference Photos: (1) Donyale Luna by Guy Bourdin, Vogue, 1966. / (2) Elle France, 1996.

Share

Setting up a layaway is super easy and we are happy to provide this service!

Here's how deposits work on a standard layaway:

We require three equal payments of the layaway total. You will be invoiced for the first amount upon request
payment two of the remaining balance will be billed two weeks from the date of the initial deposit.
The final payment is due two weeks after the second payment and shipping will be billed on this invoice as well.
items less then $500, or that are on sale, require a 50% deposit with the final payment due in two weeks from the date of deposit

SIZE GUIDE

Please review all measurements carefully. More often than not, vintage garments do not fit any size category exactly. If in doubt, measure a garment of your own that fits and is a similar cut and compare it's measurements to the listed measurements below.