Parisian ingenuity meets pixelated rebellion. Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant’s Coperni, the French label known for turning tech-driven theatrics into viral moments, chose the newly renovated adidas Arena to present its Fall/Winter 2025 collection, transforming the Olympic 2024-ready venue into a 24-hour LAN party.
“We decided to tackle the huge universe of gaming, which has become like a religion,” Vaillant said, explaining their dive into the ’90s era, reviving the glory days when joining a multiplayer PC game meant dragging computers to an in-person gathering. The collection, as Meyer described it, leans on utilitarian details – tech pockets, harness belts – and nods to movies like “Hackers” and “Tomb Raider.” Meyer explained the line as “a moment of sharing – an honest moment, a moment of freedom,” reflecting the unpretentious spirit of early gaming gatherings where “geeks came together to play nonstop.” In recent months, the duo has attended both an e-sports tournament in Paris, where thousands gathered to watch teams of players battle it out on stage, and DreamHack in Stockholm, an old-school LAN party.
The show itself seats 200 players and guests, a mix of amateurs, pros and streamers. Despite gaming’s male-dominated reputation, Coperni is emphasizing gender diversity in the selection of attendees, addressing the historical gender imbalance in the gaming industry.
Vaillant also said that this season’s show will feature a number of “surprising” partnerships.
Fashion’s courtship of gaming isn’t new – Louis Vuitton featured “Final Fantasy” character Lightning in its ads a decade ago; Balenciaga teamed up with the racing video game “Need for Speed” last year – but Coperni’s approach feels less transactional. Instead of slapping logos on merch, they’re reviving the tactile essence of the subculture.
Coperni has a history of pushing boundaries and bringing unexpected elements to their shows, from a drive-in fashion show during the pandemic to the viral moments of Bella Hadid‘s spray-on dress. Their recent Spring/Summer 2025 show at Disneyland Paris, which featured a surprise appearance by Kylie Jenner, generated $16.8 million in media value.
