French fashion label Coperni, the name behind Bella Hadid's viral spray-on dress, is shutting down after a prolonged dispute with its majority shareholder and distributor. Co-founders Sébastien Meyer and Arnaud Vaillant announced on Wednesday, 4 November 2026, that the label's French operating company, Coperni SAS, was ceasing operations.
'We have tried everything,' the designers said in a statement shared on Instagram, referring to months of attempts to preserve the business and settle a conflict with Tomorrow Ltd. The closure brings an abrupt end to the label's eight-year run since its relaunch, despite runway spectacles that drew international attention.
Why Is Coperni Shutting Down?
The dispute centred on Tomorrow, the London-based company that held a majority stake in Coperni and handled its distribution. Meyer and Vaillant alleged that Tomorrow had stopped paying sums owed to Coperni and had terminated the label's licensing agreement. Their statement said efforts to resolve the disagreement had failed, leaving the French operation unable to continue.
Signs of trouble emerged earlier in 2026, when Coperni withdrew from the autumn/winter 2026 Paris Fashion Week schedule. On 11 June, a Paris commercial court placed Coperni SAS under judicial reorganisation, allowing it to continue operating while addressing its financial difficulties. French company records show that the proceedings subsequently moved to judicial liquidation on 29 October 2026. The founders subsequently tried to regain control of the label, but the negotiations did not produce an agreement.
RIP Coperni, their drip too hard. their materials too technological. their concepts too tough. they killed them pic.twitter.com/V5f95DhSaj
— Joseph Alessio (@alessio_joseph) November 4, 2026
The dispute unfolded as Tomorrow changed hands in March, when Italian holding company Progetto 11 acquired it. Following the acquisition, Progetto 11 said it had inherited a business already facing disputes over ownership and governance, alongside funding difficulties.That account offered another perspective on a breakdown the Coperni founders blamed on unpaid sums.
Bella Hadid's Viral Spray-On Coperni Dress
On 30 September 2022, Bella Hadid stepped onto Coperni's Paris Fashion Week runway wearing nude underwear as technicians sprayed a liquid textile directly onto her body. The substance dried into a white dress, which was then adjusted into an off-the-shoulder silhouette with a thigh slit. Hadid walked the finale in the finished garment, turning the spring/summer 2023 presentation into one of the label's defining moments.
Bella Hadid and the spray-on dress at #Coperni: Part I pic.twitter.com/jjgMB1Qxn9
— Vanessa Friedman (@VVFriedman) September 30, 2022
The dress was created with Fabrican, a spray-on textile technology developed by Spanish scientist Manel Torres. Unlike ordinary paint, the liquid contained fibres that formed a wearable fabric as the solvent evaporated. The demonstration helped introduce Coperni's experiments with science and clothing to audiences beyond the fashion industry.
There were other attention-grabbing designs, too. Coperni became known for its curved Swipe Bag, later producing a version from silica aerogel, an exceptionally light material associated with space research. Its shows featured robot dogs, while Kylie Jenner closed the spring/summer 2025 presentation at Disneyland Paris in October 2024.
Kylie Jenner closes the Coperni SS25 Show!! pic.twitter.com/LmA4mB1c2f
— beyza misses chandler (@beyzanurapaydin) October 1, 2024
The Founders Leave the Future Open
Meyer and Vaillant first established Coperni in 2013 before putting it on hold while they worked as artistic directors at Courrèges. They relaunched the label in 2018, building a business around sharp tailoring, futuristic accessories and elaborate runway concepts. The founders credited their teams, factories and supporters with helping bring those ideas to life.
'Coperni existed because of you,' they told supporters in their farewell message. They signed off with 'See you soon', but did not announce another fashion project or a plan to restart the business. Their statement also left unanswered what will happen to the Coperni name, remaining stock and customer orders.
For now, Coperni's French operations are coming to an end, but the brand's future remains uncertain. Whether the name will make a comeback under new ownership is still unclear, and Meyer and Vaillant have yet to reveal what they plan to do next.
