Fashion designer Pierre Cardin dies at 98, leaving legacy of space-age style and licensing empire

Pierre Cardin has died in France at age 98, confirmed by his family who expressed pride in his 'tenacious ambition' and daring. The French-Italian designer created futuristic, space-age-inflected fashion, including his iconic 1954 'bubble dress' and geometric 1960s designs with vinyl and silvery fabrics. He began his career working for Paquin, Schiaparelli, and Christian Dior before founding his own House of Cardin. In 1959, his first ready-to-wear collection caused scandal and led to expulsion from Chambre Syndicale de la Haute Couture Parisienne, realizing his vision of bringing high fashion to the masses. Cardin dressed celebrities including Brigitte Bardot and the Beatles. He pioneered licensing and branding, placing his name on products from sunglasses to pickles, once boasting one could 'dress Cardin, eat Cardin, dwell Cardin, sleep Cardin, and travel Cardin.' In 1969, NASA commissioned him to create a spacesuit. He expanded globally, presenting in China in 1979 as the first French designer to trade with the communist country, and in Moscow's Red Square in 1991 before a crowd of 200,000.