Fashion Inspired By Artwork And Practice Hits Paris
Paris: A/POLITICAL presented the highly anticipated debut runway show of Coucou Bebe 75018, TESTOSTERONE, during Paris Fashion Week at the iconic Elysée Montmartre. This groundbreaking event, inspired by the complete works of artist Pyotr Pavlensky, merged high fashion and mixed martial arts (MMA) in an epic spectacle that redefined the boundaries of a traditional fashion show.
TESTOSTERONE drew its name from the hormone that symbolizes power, aggression, and vitality, weaving these themes into an exploration of masculinity for the Menswear Fall/Winter 2025 collection. The entire presentation was inspired by the artwork and practice of Pyotr Pavlensky, whose work is represented under the stewardship of A/POLITICAL. Coucou Bebe and Pyotr Pavlensky share a hallucinatory quality in their work whereby people do not believe what they are seeing is real.
For the first time, high fashion collided with mixed martial arts, a sport only legalized in France in 2020, to create a groundbreaking transgression in the fashion world.
The classic runway became the walkway for the fighters to enter the cage, the epicentre for physical and symbolic clashes. Eight fighters battled in four fights, each consisting of three one-minute rounds, brought to life by HEXAGONE MMA. The fighters, the corner teams and the officials were dressed.
Showcasing fights that seamlessly underscored the primal power of physical endurance, the card featured French household names: veteran Anthony Dizy, multiple world grappling champion Alexis Fontes, veteran Muay Thai World Champion Mike Wasserman and national MMA champion and world medallist Sambo Sima alongside Nicolae Bivol, Théo Ulrich, Lazaro Maza Blanco and Shekibullah Warris.
The TESTOSTERONE collection introduced bold, innovative silhouettes, including signature bombers and masterfully crafted leather pieces; the garments embodied a rugged yet avant-garde spirit. Accessories such as belts adorned with the brand’s iconic “charms” embellishments and key chains added intricate detail and playfulness. The collection exemplified Coucou Bebe’s commitment to merging raw intensity with a stripped-back aesthetic, presenting an atmosphere of raw minimalism while retaining the provocative, hallucinatory edge that defines his work. Unlike his previous collections, where his messages were often purposely woven with glitches and internet spam-like distractions, this time, he presented a focused narrative from start to finish, based entirely on the artwork of Pyotr Pavlensky.
“I stand for absolute artistic freedom, and therefore, I welcome it when artists, fashion designers, and other representatives of various arts and crafts give each other free access to their artworks and allow them to be used without any restrictions. Because artistic freedom is above all in this world.” – Pyotr Pavlensk
Central to the collection were striking prints inspired by Pyotr Pavlensky’s work. Iconic visuals included SEAM, his stitched-mouth portrait—a powerful allusion to the broader implications of Pavlensky’s art on society and the individual. Other visuals featured meteorites inscribed with the phrase “God of Chaos, the city killer,” satirical nods to plastic surgery culture, and reimaginings of Pavlensky as
a professor, here to educate. These elements were rendered with Coucou Bebe’s signature reinterpretative flair, challenging the boundaries of traditional menswear.
References to emblematic French institutions further enrich the visual narrative. Fonts reminiscent of the Police Nationale, BFMTV, and the Fleury-Mérogis prison lend the collection a subversive edge, embedding layers of commentary on authority, media, and the intersection of power and art.
Together, these elements underscored Kanoush and Pyotr Pavlensky’s shared disruptive approaches in their respective fields. TESTOSTERONE was not just a collection but a manifesto—a biting critique of identity, rebellion, and resistance delivered through the fighters’ raw combativeness and Coucou Bebe’s provocative designs.
Coucou Bebe’s work has always embodied duality—a designer in constant questioning around media, artistic institutions, and societal conventions. TESTOSTERONE highlighted this ongoing battle through the raw, physical combat of fighters, creating a layered commentary on rebellion and resistance. This was not just a fashion show but a transgression and an innovative vision of identity, power, and their unexpected intersections.
An exclusive After Party was held at the venue following the show, sponsored by Café Bianca. Known for its vibrant ambience and refined offerings, Café Bianca brought its signature touch to the evening, creating an unforgettable celebration of creativity and style. The after-party extended the energy and excitement of the night, allowing attendees to fully immerse themselves in the world of Coucou Bebe 75018.
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