Imagine a handbag so ethereal it seems plucked from a sci-fi dream, that’s the Air Swipe, the latest boundary-breaking creation from Parisian label Coperni. Unveiled at their Fall/Winter ’24 show, this translucent, egg-shaped clutch is a marvel of both design and science.

 

The Air Swipe is otherworldly, yet its origins are cosmic. Composed of 99% air and 1% silica aerogel (dubbed “the lightest solid on Earth”), this nanomaterial was once the domain of NASA. Silica aerogel was used to collect stardust, withstanding both searing heat and crushing pressure.

 

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Now, this space-age material has been reimagined as a fashion statement. Coperni has collaborated with Professor Ioannis Michaloudis, a scientist and artist known for his innovative use of silica aerogel.  The Air Swipe marks the largest object ever fashioned from this extraordinary material, yet it weighs a mere 33 grams, almost lighter than air itself.

 

But is it just art, or is it functional? The fashion house playfully assures us it’ll hold an iPhone. While this minimalist marvel might not replace your everyday tote, it heralds a potential revolution. If a purse can be sculpted from air, what other impossibilities await on fashion’s cutting edge?

 

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Perhaps the most alluring aspect is the Air Swipe’s sustainability. In a world grappling with overconsumption, this almost weightless accessory points towards a future where fashion treads lightly on our planet.

 

Coperni’s latest creation is more than a viral moment. It’s a glimpse of a future where fashion, science, and sustainability intertwine.

Ntianu Obiora
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Ntianu Obiora is a versatile creative professional with over a decade of experience in publishing, marketing, communications, and digital strategy. She is the Online Editor at THEWILL DOWNTOWN