Career Timeline of Paco Rabanne: Major Achievements and Milestones

By Popular Timelines Editorial Team · Updated: March 29, 2025

Discover the career path of Paco Rabanne, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.

Paco Rabanne, born Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo, was a Spanish-born, naturalized-French fashion designer. Known for his avant-garde metal and plastic designs, he revolutionized the fashion world in the 1960s. His innovative use of unconventional materials challenged traditional couture and cemented his place as a visionary designer. Beyond fashion, Rabanne also ventured into the perfume industry, creating successful fragrances that mirrored his bold and futuristic aesthetic. His career spanned decades, leaving a lasting impact on the fashion landscape.

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Full Timeline Career & Achievements

1966: Founding of Paco Rabanne's Fashion House

In 1966, Paco Rabanne founded his own fashion house and presented "Manifesto: 12 unwearable dresses in contemporary materials" for his brand's debut, using unconventional materials like metal, paper, and plastic.

1968: Collaboration with Puig

In 1968, Paco Rabanne began collaborating with the fragrance company Puig, leading to the marketing of his perfumes.

1968: Designing Costumes for Barbarella

In 1968, Paco Rabanne designed the costumes, including the iconic green dress, for Jane Fonda in the science-fiction film Barbarella.

1976: Perfume Factory Built in Chartres

In 1976, a perfume factory was built in Chartres, France, for Paco Rabanne's fragrances.

1994: Publication of "Has the Countdown Begun? Through Darkness to Enlightenment"

In 1994, Paco Rabanne wrote the book, Has the Countdown Begun? Through Darkness to Enlightenment.

Has the countdown begun?: Through darkness to enlightenment

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1996: Costume design for Mylene Farmer's Tour

In 1996, Mylène Farmer commissioned Paco Rabanne to create her live-concert stage costumes for Tour 1996 and the resulting Live à Bercy album.

2005: Exhibition of Drawings in Moscow

In 2005, at the age of 72, Paco Rabanne opened the first exhibition of his drawings in Moscow, Russia, to present his drawings before "disappearing from this planet."

2011: Manish Arora Named Chief Designer of Menswear

In 2011, Manish Arora was appointed as the chief designer of Rabanne menswear.

2012: Lydia Maurer Replaces Manish Arora

In 2012, Lydia Maurer, a German fashion designer, replaced Manish Arora as chief designer of Rabanne menswear.

2013: Julien Dossena Appointed Creative Director

In mid-2013, Julien Dossena, a Belgian and former Balenciaga designer, was appointed as the creative director of womenswear at Paco Rabanne.

January 2016: New Store Opens on Rue Cambon

In January 2016, a new Paco Rabanne store opened on Paris' Rue Cambon, following the closure of the remaining Paco Rabanne boutiques more than ten years earlier.