Rabanne and Arthus Bertrand, two legendary houses of French luxury, have joined forces to unveil a unique creation — the iconic 1969 Bag in its most expensive version ever produced…
Rabanne and Arthus Bertrand Reinvent the Iconic 1969 Bag: A Historic Collaboration!
Together, Rabanne and the jewelry house Arthus Bertrand have revisited the iconic 1969 bag and created a new exceptional piece. A true fusion of innovation and tradition, celebrating artisanal craftsmanship and bold creativity, this collaboration marks a new milestone in the history of fashion.
Originally created by Paco Rabanne in 1969, the metal 1969 bag itself marked a turning point in fashion history with its avant-garde design and unconventional materials. It quickly became a symbol of the stylistic revolution of the 60s and 70s, especially when Françoise Hardy wore it, showcasing Rabanne’s audacity on the red carpets and beyond.
Composed of metallic discs assembled like chainmail, this bag embodies the connection between fashion and art, between functionality and ornamentation. Today, Rabanne and Arthus Bertrand have reimagined this legendary model, reinterpreting it with jeweler’s refinement. The 1969 bag, in this limited edition, is adorned with 18-carat gold and 157 “Pluie d’Étoiles” medals, a signature of the Arthus Bertrand house. Each medal, fine and sophisticated, is hand-assembled in the house’s workshops, showcasing unparalleled craftsmanship. This meticulous process, which required over 200 hours of development and 100 hours of manufacturing, has given birth to a truly unique work of art, priced at 250,000 euros.
Julien Dossena, Artistic Director of Rabanne, shares: “Craftsmanship is at the heart of everything we do. For this artisanal edition, I wanted to collaborate with the best, and Arthus Bertrand, with its unique expertise in creating medals, was the ideal choice. The result is a bag that is both light, sophisticated, and profoundly iconic.”
Complementing this reinterpretation of the bag, the two houses have also created a vermeil medal, a true homage to Paco Rabanne’s legacy. This medal, reflecting the iconic shape of the bag’s discs, captures the essence of both universes. Camille Toupet, Artistic Director of Arthus Bertrand, explains: “The ‘Pluie d’Étoiles’ medal, a bestseller of our house, naturally stood out to elevate this collaboration. Rabanne’s signature disc, reworked in vermeil, embodies this perfect fusion.”
