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Pierre CardinLegendary designer
Date of Birth: 07.07.1922
Country:  France |
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Biography of Pierre Cardin
Pierre Cardin, a French fashion designer of Italian descent, is a living legend in the world of fashion. He gained fame for his avant-garde style and futuristic designs. Cardin is known for his preference for geometric shapes and patterns, often ignoring the female form. He is one of the pioneers of the unisex style, where he experimented extensively, sometimes with questionable results.
Early Life and Education
Pierre Cardin was born on July 2, 1922, in San Biagio di Callalta, near Treviso, Italy. He received his education in central France. At the age of 14, Cardin became an apprentice tailor, learning the basics of clothing design and construction. In 1939, he left home and started working at an atelier in Vichy, where he began creating costumes for women. During World War II, Cardin worked with the Red Cross, which deepened his humanitarian ideals that he still holds today.
Career
Cardin moved to Paris in 1945, where he studied architecture and worked with Jeanne Paquin's fashion house. He also represented Elsa Schiaparelli's interests before becoming the head of the sewing workshop at Christian Dior in 1947. Around the same time, he was denied a job at Balenciaga. Cardin opened his own fashion house in 1950 and gained fame by creating 30 costumes for the "party of the century," a masquerade ball held in Venice in 1951. He transitioned to haute couture in 1953 and became the first designer to establish Japan as a high fashion market when he visited the country in 1959.
In the 1960s, Cardin pioneered the use of licensing systems in the fashion industry, which is now commonly practiced. He introduced his logo on clothing during this period. In 1966, he left the Syndicat de la Haute Couture and started showing his collections at his own venue, Espace Cardin, near the US embassy in Paris. Espace Cardin also served as a platform for promoting new talents in theater and music.
In addition to his fashion career, Cardin worked with various companies outside the industry. He designed uniforms for Pakistan International Airlines and collaborated with American Motors Corporation (AMC) to create the "Cardin Javelin" car in the 1970s. He also purchased the famous Maxim's restaurant and opened branches in New York, London, and Beijing. Cardin has been a member of the French Federation of Haute Couture and Ready-to-Wear from 1953 to 1993.
Later Life and Legacy
In 1994, Cardin decided to showcase his collections to a select group of clients and journalists. After a 15-year hiatus, he presented his new creations to 150 journalists in his bubble house in Cannes. Cardin expanded into industrial design and developed thirteen main design themes that he used for various products.
Cardin's passion for geometric shapes led him to build the Bubble House, also known as Le Palais Bulles, in 1975. The house, designed by Hungarian architect Antti Lovag, features Cardin's original creations throughout its 1200-square-meter interior. Cardin also purchased the ruins of a castle in Lacoste, France, which he partially restored and used as a venue for music and dance festivals.
Throughout his career, Cardin maintained a close partnership with Andre Oliver, who served as his ally, friend, lover, and business partner for many years.
