Cardin, Pierre (1922– )

French pioneering fashion designer. He was the first to launch menswear (1960) and designer ready-to-wear collections (1963) and has given his name to a perfume. Cardin has franchised his name for labelling many different accessories and household products.

He moved to Paris in 1944 and worked in the fashion houses of Madame Paquin, Elsa Schiaparelli, and Christian Dior.

He began making theatrical costumes in 1949, and launched his first couture collection in 1957. He introduced the bubble dress in 1954 but was particularly influential in the 1960s, creating his ‘Space Age Collection’ of catsuits, tight leather trousers, and jumpsuits with bat wings. In 1964 he introduced close-fitting helmet-style caps, followed in 1966 by shift dresses with ring collars from which the fabric was suspended.

Cardin was born in San Andrea da Barbaranear, near Venice in Italy, to French parents. He served in the French Red Cross during World War II, which took him to Paris. Among other assets are his own venue, Espace Cardin, opened in Paris in 1971, and the Maxim's international chain of restaurants and hotels.