Goodbye, Paco. Hello, Rabanne. Spanish fashion house Paco Rabanne is dropping its first name, a move that recalls Yves Saint Laurent’s controversial choice to slash Yves from its branding.
Rabanne’s new moniker is part of a wider rebrand for the label, founded in 1966 by Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo. “Simplified and more international in spirit, the name change to Rabanne represents a pivotal moment for the maison as it celebrates a decade of remarkable growth,” a press release states.
In addition to its name change, the house will introduce a new monogram and typography drawing from its first fragrance, Calandre, launched in 1969. Speaking of fragrance: Beauty will be further integrated into the Rabanne brand, which will continue to be helmed by creative director Julien Dossena.
According to industry newsmonger Stylenotcom, Rabanne — currently owned by Spanish luxury conglomerate Puig — will launch its own makeup line in September. Overseen by makeup artist Diane Kendal (who also serves as the creative director of Zara’s beauty division), the imprint will take an “indie-meets-designer approach.”
Rabanne’s entry into cosmetics mirrors luxury fashion’s recent beauty boom. In 2022 alone, Off-White, Dries Van Noten, and Stella McCartney launched their own beauty lines, more accessible to the average consumer than their higher-priced fashion collections.
Indeed, a Rabanne eyeshadow palette will offer a more approachable entry point to the brand than, say, one if its pricey (and fabulous!) chain mail purses.
