For Fall/Winter ’24, Coperni took its vision to the heavens, quite literally. From star-shaped stilettos to monolithic clutches, the Parisian label embraced the intergalactic, filling the runway with dresses that looked like space blankets and ballooning skirts that called to mind the rings of Saturn.
But one glowing accessory totally stole the show: the Air Swipe bag, made from the lightest solid material on planet Earth.
An egg-shaped, nearly transparent clutch that seems like it was plucked right off the spaceship in Arrival, the Air Swipe is composed of a substance that is 99 percent air and 1 percent “glass.” The glass portion is actually the nanomaterial silica aerogel, which the Coperni creative team describes as “very delicate (and non-fragile).”
Prior to becoming fashion’s latest breakthrough, silica aerogel was used by NASA to collect cosmic dust, because the material can withstand extreme heat and pressure of 4,000 times its weight.
Developed by Professor Ioannis Michaloudis—a researcher and visual artist at the forefront of incorporating silica aerogel into the fine arts—the Air Swipe is the largest object ever created with the nanomaterial … and it weighs only about 33 grams.
The Coperni creation raises big questions about the future of accessorizing. If we can make a purse practically out of air, what’s next? And does it signal a more sustainable future for fashion?
Of course, while we turn to clutches for style, we also expect them to hold stuff. When Coperni posted the bag on Instagram, one commenter expressed what was on everyone’s mind, asking: “Does it serve the function of a bag tho??”
The brand replied, “It can hold an iPhone ;).”
So there you have it, folks: lightweight, sustainable, futuristic, and functional. As Fashion Month nears its end, Coperni is proving the sky truly is the limit—and the air itself might be the key to all our future favorite bags.
Coperni Fall/Winter ’24 Ready-to-Wear Gallery
Joel is the editorial and social media assistant for HarpersBAZAAR.com, where he covers all things celebrity news. When he steps away from the keyboard, you can likely find him singing off-key at concerts, scavenging thrift stores for loud wardrobe staples, or perusing bookstores for the next great gay romance novel.
