A new fashion trend is taking the UK by storm: clothing laced with live bacteria. Parisian brand Coperni, in collaboration with Swiss biotech experts, has launched a range of leggings, bodysuits, and tops priced between £150 and £180. The garments are infused with friendly bacteria designed to rebalance the skin's protective barrier and enhance its natural glow.
Each gram of the stretch fabric contains approximately 140,000 live bacterial cells, which are slowly absorbed by the skin when worn. The active ingredients are said to last up to 40 washes. The collection, named Carewear, was inspired by founders Arnaud Vaillant and Sébastien Meyer's question: 'What if clothing could do more than dress you, what if it could care for you?'
Coperni's founders emphasised the importance of skin as a living organ and ecosystem. They stated: 'We wanted to imagine clothing that could become an ally, a second skin infused with kindness and intelligence. For so long, fashion has focused on what’s visible... Now, we’re entering a time where what’s invisible matters just as much: how it interacts with your body, how it supports your well-being.'
The materials were designed for comfort and dermatologically tested on human skin. This is not Coperni's first unconventional release. In Spring Summer 2023, the brand made headlines when model Bella Hadid appeared naked on the runway and was sprayed with a white outfit on the spot using Fabrican technology. The Fall Winter 2023 show featured robot dogs assisting models and bags made from 55,000-year-old lunar meteorite.
Coperni's general collections have been worn by celebrities including Gigi Hadid, Billie Eilish, Hailey Bieber, Megan Fox, Kylie Jenner, Rihanna, Doja Cat, and Sydney Sweeney. The brand continues to push boundaries in fashion, merging style with wellness and technology.
