PARIS, Jul 5, 2004/ FW/ --- Born in San Andrea de Barbara to French parents on Jul 2, 1922, Pierre Cardin studied architecture at Saint-Etienne; his foray into fashion began as an apprentice at Manby men’s tailor in Vichy in 1939.

Like most young men from his generation, he served during World War II, choosing to work for the Red Cross. After the way, he went back to fashion, this time working as a design assistant to Madame Paquin and Elsa Schiaparelli from 1945-46.

From 1946 – 1950, he was the head of workrooms at Christian Dior, helping to design the ‘New Look’ in 1947. After leaving Christian Dior in 1950, he founded his eponymous fashion house presenting his first collection in 1951.

His rise to fame and fortune is based on his two talents – fashion-forward designs that captured the zeitgeist of the market and formidable business acumen. Separately, these two talents would have given Pierre Cardin fame and fortune. Together, they were dynamite and as a result, Pierre Cardin became one of the five best-known Frenchman known throughout the world since 1960 and one of the world’s richest fashion designers.

From early on, Pierre Cardin’s designs had been characterized by geometric shapes and stylized construction. Perhaps, it is an influence of his architecture background or his mixing science & technology with his designs.

He has a penchant for using big collars and adding bizarre shapes. During the 1960s, when the space race between the USSR and the US was going on, and then the eventual moon landing by the US, Pierre Cardin’s collections had been distinguished by its futurist looks.

In fact, he has ventured into androgyny even before it became en vogue with his ‘de-sexifying’ the female form. Breasts became conical and though he created mini skirts, he covered the legs with printed hose.

Still his vision of fashion has always moved with the times. Combined with his entrepreneurial skills, Pierre Cardin was the first fashion designer to open up market in Japan in 1958 and then China in 1978. He was also the first French designer to challenge London’s Savile Row by revolutionizing how the world looks at menswear. And in 1960, he was the first designer who applied the brand licensing system, which defined the business of fashion from that decade and beyond.

Pierre Cardin was also one of the early believers in ready-to-wear. In 1959, he left haute couture and concentrated on prêt-a-porter, which in turn made fashion more available to a larger market.

Spring 2007 Photo by FW

Website: www.pierrecardin.fr

PIERRE CARDIN
27, avenue Marigny
75008 Paris
FRANCE

Press Contact:
Jean-Pascal Hesse
Tel: (+33)1 42 66 95 93
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