Coperni

Coperni Spring Summer 2024 Show Features AI Wearable Device by Startup Humane at Paris Fashion Week.

Coperni is a Parisian ready-to-wear and accessories brand designed by Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant, established in 2013. In an interview with Harper’s Bazaar in 2015, the duo described their plans for the future as, “Our dream is to develop our own fabrics and embroideries and later to include technology in the garments. It's still a bit early but this is what we dream about in the future—having the best tailored suit with a little light detail in the collar or even to work with heat or waterproof materials. We feel that technology will be a next level for fashion.”

Today at Paris Fashion Week, that glimpse of a dream became illuminated in a collaboration with AI startup Humane (covered previously here). After all, Coperni does take their name from astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus who formulated a model of the universe that placed the Sun at its center. “Sébastien is very into technology, futurism and light,” said Vaillant in the Harper’s Bazaar interview. “We love the ideas of future, révolution, roundness, warmth and lightness that come from it and the infinite possibilities to work with.”

Humane’s first device, the Ai Pin was worn on the runway by supermodel Naomi Campbell. The Pin was styled on other models as well, both men and women, always worn on the left lapel (and in one instance on a pair of trousers, also on the left side). I would have also liked to seen the Pin styled on a dress, however I suspect the fabrics of the dresses were too delicate and the Pin too heavy (for now).

The Humane Ai Pin is a screenless, standalone device and software platform. The clothing-based wearable includes AI-powered optical recognition and a laser-projected display, all powered by an advanced Snapdragon platform from Qualcomm Technologies. The complete functionalities of the Humane Ai Pin will be unveiled in full on November 9.

Coperni fashion shows are brilliant theatre. You may recall the Coperni Fall Winter 2023 show featuring Boston Dynamics dog-shaped robots opening the show. In a metaphorical dance between man and machine — and based on the 17th century fable “The Wolf and the Lamb” — model Rianne Van Rompaey’s interaction with one of the robots provided beautiful tension. Joelle Diderich of WWD perfectly described the exchange: “The automated creature leaned into Van Rompaey’s face before clutching her jacket in its mechanical jaw and tearing it off. Turning her back, she casually took back the proferred jacket before walking away — a rewrite of the original ending.” Meyer explained backstage, “We want to show with this show that at the end, we can all live in harmony.”

And hopefully, that is the direction humanity’s story with AI is also headed in.