In a striking showcase of creativity, Gigi Hadid graced the runway at Paris Fashion Week in a daring mini dress made entirely from DHL-branded packing tape. Following Rihanna’s iconic bathrobe look, this latest fashion statement suggests that luxury designers are drawing inspiration from the everyday items found in our homes.
Hadid’s eye-catching ensemble was presented during the Vetements show, where she sported a strapless dress wrapped tightly in vibrant yellow and red packing tape. To complete the look, she wore matching heeled pumps also adorned with the same tape. Social media buzzed with reactions, with one user quipping, “She delivered,” while another joked, “FedEx has 24 hours to respond.”
While the use of packing tape in high fashion may seem novel, it’s a concept that’s been explored before. In 2017, designer Raf Simons showcased models in wool overcoats cinched with custom tape that read phrases like “Walk with Me” and “RSYP Youth Project.” Around the same time, Jeremy Scott drew inspiration from trash for his Moschino collection, featuring gowns with taped straps and detailing.
Kim Kardashian made headlines in 2022 when she attended the Balenciaga show in Paris, her outfit almost entirely covered in black and yellow police tape. New York Times fashion critic Vanessa Friedman noted that the ensemble created a “sticky tape-y sound” as Kardashian walked the runway.
The history of duct tape is just as fascinating as its recent fashion iterations. Originally created during World War II by Vesta Stoudt, a munitions factory worker, duct tape was designed to securely package ammunition boxes. Its versatility soon transformed it into a go-to solution for a myriad of issues, from fixing split boots to serving as makeshift bandages for soldiers.
By the 2010s, duct tape evolved from a practical tool to a fashionable statement. Designers began to play with the material in innovative ways, producing rolls adorned with fun designs like Hello Kitty or even scented options. Constructing a dress from duct tape became a popular challenge on the reality show Project Runway. Additionally, in the 2010 music video for “Telephone,” Lady Gaga wore little more than yellow caution tape, showcasing the material’s potential for high-fashion drama.
In 2011, Iowa State University launched its first annual duct tape fashion show, allowing only designs made from this unconventional material. While the event faced cancellation in 2015 due to dwindling interest, the resurgence of tape in fashion, led by brands like Vetements and Balenciaga, suggests that the trend isn’t fading anytime soon.
As Gigi Hadid walks the runway in her DHL tape dress, she not only challenges traditional fashion norms but also revives the idea of utility items as high-fashion materials. With designers pushing boundaries, it seems the tape trend has plenty of life left in it, encouraging future creators to think outside the box—or in this case, the roll.
