1934
Francisco Rabanne Cuervo was born in Trintxerpe – Pasaia (Basque Country) on February 18, 1934.
He was the co-founder and honorary president of the Fransico Rabaneda Cuervo Foundation.
1937
His father is captured and executed by Francoist troops during the Spanish civil war. The family flees to France and settles in Morlaix firstly, and in Sables -d’Olonne later on.
1951-1963
Studies architecture at the École National Supérieure de Beaux-Arts, in Paris.
1955-1963
Designs bags for Roger Model and shoes for Charles Jourdan. He is awarded the Laurel at the Paris Biennial.
1962-1966
Manufactures buttons and embroidery for haute couture firms (i.e. Nina Ricci, Balenciaga, Philippe Venet, Pierre Gardin, Givenchy, etc.).
1966
On February 1, the first collection-manifesto is presented at the Georges V Hotel in Paris: twelve unbearable dresses made of Rhodoïd discs and plates.
“(…) My first collection coincided with the birth and flourishing of the Women’s Liberation Movement, (,,,) Dressing women in metal and covering them with coats of mail was, in a way, to make them become the new Joan of Arc, Amazon women, warriors who opposed macho, sexist cowardice”.
From then on, he founded his empire in the fashion world, from haute couture, dressmaking and perfumes to decorative elements, under the name of Paco Rabanne.
1969
He wins the Beauty-Industry Award for the design of the bottle of the “Calandre” perfume.
1986
The Puig Group buys the sewing workshop. Rabanne continues taking over the fashion part.
1989
Receives the Official Badge of the Order of Elizabeth the Catholic.
1990
Receives the prestigious Golden Thimble.
1994
Receives the Gold Medal for the Artistic and Cultural Merit, from the Complutense University of Madrid.
1996
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Illumbe Music Association of Trintxerpe-Pasaia and having accepted the invitation of honorary president of the commemorative event program, he returns to his hometown. This is the starting point of the loving friendship that will culminate with the creation of the Francisco Rabaneda Cuervo Foundation.
1996
He leaves haute couture and entrusts The Puig Group with the brand and empire Paco Rabanne.
2001
He wins the Gold Medal of Merit in the Fine Arts of Spain.
2003
He designs the clothing for the camera opera El Acomodador, produced by the Illumbe Music Association.
2007
Supervises the end-of-career projects carried out by students of the Higher School of Architecture of the Basque Country, with the motive of creating the Rabanne Space in Trintxerpe, his hometown. HE also gives a masterful class.
2019
Francisco Rabanne Cuervo (Paco Rabanne) and Juan Jesús Neira de Lucas formalize the creation of the Fransico Rabaneda Cuervo Foundation (name of birth of the great artist).
2023
On February 3, Francisco Rabanne Cuervo dies in Portsall, Ploudalmézeau (French Brittany), a few days after turning 89.
The Pasaia City Council unanimously grants Francisco Rabanne Cuervo the title of Honorary Citizen.
1. The Foundation has the following purposes of general interest:
To promote, develop and enhance the enormous significance and prominence that the couturier Francisco Rabanne Cuervo, from Pasaia, has had in the world of fashion and, especially, in the haute couture.
2. To this end, the Foundation may carry out the following tasks:
a) Research and observation on the career and work of Paco Rabanne.
b) To disseminate his figure and work by bringing it closer to the citizenship.
c) To promote activities for the development of creative and innovative processes, as well as other activities related to this purpose.
d) To further formative activities related to the world of fashion, design, art and innovation.
e) To award grants to people related to the world of fashion, design, art and innovation.
The Foundation will promote projects and proposals based on the pillars of Art – Design – Innovation. As such, three lines of action are envisaged for the development of the programme: Research – Promotion – Observation. Those lines of action are compatible with each other yet, at the same time, they must necessarily be autonomous for an effective social and economic viability.
The mentioned lines of action will lay the foundations for the future creation of the Rabanne Space set in Pasaia, specifically in the Trintxerpe District, just as Francisco Rabanne Cuervo always wanted.