Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant transformed the Paris adidas Arena into a time capsule of 1990s gaming culture for Coperni‘s Fall/Winter 2025 show, fusing hacker aesthetics with sleek futurism. The event doubled as a LAN party revival, where 200 gamers – including French e-sports team Gentle Mates – played Rocket League and Fortnite alongside models strutting looks inspired by tech subcultures and iconic virtual heroines.
The collection paid homage to the early camaraderie of the internet, where gamers dragged PCs into basements for marathon sessions. Leather zip-up jackets, thigh belts reminiscent of Lara Croft’s holsters, and sailor-style schoolgirl dresses nodded to manga and video game archetypes. A standout red quilted bustier dress mirrored the makeshift sleeping bags used at all-night gaming events.
Coperni’s collaboration with Ray-Ban Meta debuted semi-opaque smart sunglasses that revealed the technology within their frames, a first for the brand. The Swipe bag reappeared as a Tamagotchi-inspired accessory, while cargo pants with snap pockets offered functional flair for gadget-toting wearers. Sequined dresses mimicked TV static, a playful nod to the frustrations of the dial-up era.
Models weaved through rows of gamers, creating a vivid contrast between shiny runway pieces and the casual intensity of e-sports. Rappers Ice Spice and Tokischa joined the crowd, while singer Theodora arrived with a prop gun, adding to the “choose your player” energy of the event. Designers emphasized feminine interpretations of geek culture, from Milla Jovovich’s “Resident Evil” utilitarian chic to Angelina Jolie‘s “Hackers”-era biker jackets reimagined in buttery leather.
While previous collections leaned toward casualwear, Fall/Winter 2025 balanced streetwear elements with sophisticated eveningwear. A black beaded dress with a thigh slit evoked digital artifacts, while adjustable garter belts allowed wearers to customize the hem of dresses-a subtle critique of one-size-fits-all fast fashion. Meyer noted the challenge of merging tech partnerships with design integrity: “We get asked to collaborate daily, but this felt right.”
©Photo: Coperni