Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin

Born: July 2, 1922
Died: December 29, 2020
in San Biagio di Callalta, Veneto, Italy
Pierre Cardin, born Pietro Costante Cardin (2 July 1922 – 29 December 2020), was an Italian-born naturalised-French fashion designer. He is known for what were his avant-garde style and Space Age designs. He preferred geometric shapes and motifs, often ignoring the female form. He advanced into unisex fashions, sometimes experimental, and not always practical. He founded his fashion house in 1950 and introduced the "bubble dress" in 1954.

Cardin was designated a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador in 1991, and a United Nations FAO Goodwill Ambassador in 2009.

Cardin was born near Treviso in northern Italy, the son of Maria Montagner and Alessandro Cardin. His parents were wealthy wine merchants, but lost their fortune in World War I. To escape the blackshirts they left Italy and settled in Saint-Étienne, France in 1924 along with his ten siblings. His father wanted him to study architecture, but from childhood he was interested in dressmaking.

Cardin moved to Paris in 1945. There, he studied architecture and worked with the fashion house of Paquin after World War II. He worked with Elsa Schiaparelli until he became head of Christian Dior's tailleure atelier in 1947, but was denied work at Balenciaga.

Cardin founded his own fashion house in 1950. His career was launched when he designed about 30 of the costumes for a masquerade ball in Venice, hosted by Carlos de Beistegui in 1951. Cardin inaugurated his haute couture output in 1953 with his first collection of women's clothing and became a member of the Chambre Syndicale, a French association of haute couture designers. The following year he opened his first boutique Eve, and introduced the "bubble dress", which is a short-skirted, bubble-shaped dress made by bias-cutting over a stiffened base. He was the first couturier to turn to Japan as a high fashion market when he travelled there in 1957.

As haute couture began to decline, ready-to-wear ('prêt-à-porter') soared as well as Cardin's designs. He was the first to combine the "mini" and the "maxi" skirts of the 1970s by introducing a new hemline that had long pom-pom panels or fringes.

Beginning in the 1970s, Cardin set another new trend: "mod chic". This trend holds true for the form or for a combination of forms, which did not exist at the time. He was the first to combine extremely short and ankle-length pieces. He made dresses with slits and batwing sleeves with novel dimensions and mixed circular movement and gypsy skirts with structured tops. These creations allowed for the geometric shapes that captivated him to be contrasted, with both circular and straight lines. Cardin became an icon for starting this popular fashion movement of the early 1970s.

Inspired by space travel and exploration, Cardin visited NASA (the National Aeronautics and Space Administration) in 1970, where he tried on the original spacesuit worn by the first human to set foot on the moon, Neil Armstrong. Cardin designed spacesuits for NASA in 1970.

Cardin resigned from the Chambre Syndicale in 1966 and began showing his collections in his own venue. He also designed uniforms for Pakistan International Airlines, which were introduced from 1966 to 1971 and became an instant hit. ...

Source: Article "Pierre Cardin" from Wikipedia in English, licensed under CC-BY-SA 3.0.

Movies for Pierre Cardin...

Pierre Cardin — A Figure of Modernity
Title: Pierre Cardin — A Figure of Modernity
Character: himself
Released: March 7, 2021
Type: Movie
The life of Pierre Cardin is the true and fascinating novel of the most controversial among the great French couturiers, from his miserable childhood as an Italian refugee to his exceptional artistic and economic success, which made him one of the five most famous French persons in the world.
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Pierre Cardin: La Fabrique du Futur
Title: Pierre Cardin: La Fabrique du Futur
Character: Self
Released: January 1, 2020
Type: Movie
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House of Cardin
Title: House of Cardin
Character: Self
Released: September 6, 2019
Type: Movie
The life and design of Pierre Cardin, including exclusive access to his archives and unprecedented interviews from Mr. Cardin.
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Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit
Title: Jeanne Moreau: Free Spirit
Character: Self - Fashion Designer (archive footage)
Released: April 2, 2018
Type: Movie
An account of the life of actress Jeanne Moreau (1928-2017), a true icon of the New Wave and one of the most idolized French movie stars.
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Title: Vivement dimanche
Character: Self
Released: September 20, 1998
Type: TV
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Title: Zone interdite
Character: self
Released: March 7, 1993
Type: TV
The zone interdite refers to two distinct territories established in German-occupied France during the Second World War after the signature of the Second Armistice at Compiègne.
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Title: Champs-Elysées
Character: Self
Released: January 16, 1982
Type: TV
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Title: Fan School
Character: Self
Released: January 30, 1977
Type: TV
Host Jacques Martin invites different talented children from various backgrounds to showcase their beautiful voices. The participants entertain and wow the audience with their lovely performances.
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Joanna Francesa
Title: Joanna Francesa
Released: December 30, 1973
Type: Movie
Joana is a sophisticated, beautiful woman, so she has a choice of lovers, and destinies. She will let down Pierre, the French consul at São Paulo, and with him the frivolity of tea-parties and comfort. Her wild inner-soul will develop into the wild forest surroundings of a landlord's farmhouse. To the extent she will defend her land like a 19th century owner - of lands and men alike.
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Title: Samedi soir
Character: Self
Released: January 9, 1971
Type: TV