A quick look at the career of 98-year-old fashion designer Pierre Cardin, who passed away today.
“In 2069, we will all walk on the moon or mars wearing my ‘Cosmocorps’ ensembles. Women will wear Plexiglas cloche hats and tube clothing, men will be wearing elliptical pants and kinetic tunics.”
Famous fashion designer Pierre Cardin has created many designs that guide the fashion world for more than half a century. Cardin attracted attention in 1946 when he was commissioned in the costume design of the famous director Jean Cocteau’s “Beauty and the Beast”. Then, continued with Dior and in a short time, he managed to take an important role in Dior when he was only 25 years old. Soon, he established his fashion house in 1953. He did an apprenticeship at a clothier in order to learn about making apparel.
Pierre Cardin designed the first women’s collection in 1953, followed by Eve, the first women’s boutique he opened in 1954. Pierre Cardin’s bubble dresses were a worldwide triumph. They were first big success of designer. Three years later, he opened his first men’s boutique, Adam, again in Paris.
Cardin designed the first children’s collection in 1966, and opened the first children’s boutique in Paris, 1968. The same year, he got first licence contract outside fashion: porcelain crockery. His steps continued to outside fashion in 1970: Opened the “Escape Pierre Cardin” which includes a theatre, restaurant, cinema and exhibition hall. Next step of designer was to expand it incorporating with various restaurants. This was followed by Maxim’s and Minim’s restaurants, women’s perfume Choc, Emotion perfumes, Maxim’s champagne, Ordre des Côteaux de Champagne wine, and many relentless innovations.
“When I design a dress, I don’t design it around a woman’s body. I design the dress, and then put a woman inside it.”
Pieces from Pierre Cardin’s Important Collections
One of the collections that had a great impact on the designer’s recognition was Cosmocorps, which he designed in 1964. Designs were timeless and extraordinary. Collection pieces consisted of strikingly colorful mini skirts and blouses with sharp cuts and overalls.
Designer’s second retrospective collection was exhibited in 1990, its 40th anniversary in the fashion world.
Cardin held his big fashion show in Moscow the following year: 200.000 people have watched fashion show in Red Square.
He designed his 3th retrospective collection in 2000. This collection was exhibited in Tokyo, LA, Athena and Istanbul.
Pierre Cardin has designed striking clothes since his first step to fashion world. It is possible to understand Cardin’s position in the fashion world, who is the past, present and future of the fashion world, in his own words: “In 2069, we will all walk on the moon or mars wearing my ‘Cosmocorps’ ensembles. Women will wear Plexiglas cloche hats and tube clothing, men will be wearing elliptical pants and kinetic tunics.” Although we now cannot predict when we all will be able to walk on Mars, the great name of fashion, Pierre Cardin, has dreamed of this dream for us years ago with his designs.
