The making of the Coperni Jacket

Ella McCutcheon opened the Coperni show in our speaker jacket! See the incredible moment in the Vogue article, and discover the story behind this unique collaboration.

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June 5, 2024 3:02pm EDT

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From Moodboard to Runway

In the lead-up to their SS24 collection, the design duo behind Coperni, Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant, were captivated by the convergence of nostalgia, music, and technology. A recurring motif in their sketches was a model sporting a 70s-inspired leather jacket with a unique twist: two speakers prominently displayed on the front. As it turned out, images of Transparent Speakers had already sparked their imagination on the collection's moodboard.

The challenge was set: could Transparent create a bespoke speaker system to be seamlessly integrated into Coperni's runway showpiece? With Paris Fashion Week a mere two months away, the timeline was remarkably tight.

Where Fashion Meets Tech

The Light Speaker, chosen for its sleek design, powerful output, and portability, became the acoustic foundation for the jacket. However, fusing the worlds of high-tech audio and high-fashion was no easy feat. The designers faced a unique set of constraints: how to engineer a slim, ergonomic acoustic cavity that delivered exceptional sound without adding bulk or compromising the leather jacket’s silhouette.

Finding the Form

The solution was an ingeniously designed inner cavity, sculpted to discreetly house the speakers while following the body’s natural contours. After rounds of prototyping and fittings with 3D-printed models, the team perfected the design. The speakers were meticulously secured using Transparent’s signature black screws, the cabling artfully concealed within the jacket’s lining, snaking from the front speakers around the back, and connecting to an amplifier nestled in one front pocket and a battery pack in the other. The result? A perfect marriage of technology and tailoring, ready for its runway debut.

Setting the Stage at IRCAM

For their runway show, Coperni chose a fittingly avant-garde venue: IRCAM, the legendary music and technology research center housed within the Centre Pompidou. Since the 1990s, IRCAM’s adaptable acoustic architecture and immersive sound system have provided a playground for sonic pioneers.

The runway soundtrack, a bespoke composition by rising sound artist u.r.trax, pulsed through the space. Fashion icons, including the legendary Naomi Campbell, graced the runway. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation.

A Runway Debut … that Made Headlines.

Opening the show was globally recognized fashion model Ella Mccutcheon, commanding the attention of the fashion world in the Coperni | Transparent Speaker Jacket.

The eye-catching jacket, a testament to the potential of merging fashion and technology, sent ripples through the industry, catching the eye of Vogue, who hailed Transparent as the “Swedish Sound Company Making Inroads in Fashion.” In an exclusive interview, Transparent’s founders, Per Brickstad and Magnus Wiberg, offered insights into the creative process, the challenges they overcame, and their vision for the future of sound.