Pierre Cardin: French fashion giant die for age 98

Legendary designer Pierre Cardin, wey im ogbonge designs help change fashion in di 1950s and 60s, don die at di age of 98.

Di French fashion giant, wey e career stretch reach more than 70 years, help bring in di post-war “golden age” of couture with e modern style.

Im brake ground by bringing designer styles to di masses with some of di first ready-to-wear collections.

A business pioneer, im also license e name for wide range of products.

Im die for hospital for Neuilly, near Paris, na so im family tell AFP news agency.

“Dis na day of great sadness for all our family. Pierre Cardin is no more,” na so dem tok for statement. “We all dey proud of e strong ambition and di great moves im don show throughout e life.”

After dem announce di news, im official Instagram account post one of e quotes: “I don always work in my own style, wey dey different from all others. E don always be my intention to dey different, because dat na di only way to last.”

Di fashion world pay tribute, wit fellow French designer Jean-Paul Gaultier thank am for “opening di doors to fashion and for making my dream possible”.

Elle magazine editor-in-chief and Project Runway judge Nina Garcia say Cardin designs show “how fashion get di power to design di future”.

She write say: “Im curiosity, im vision and e love for di art of fashion help shape di dreams of many women during di second half of di 20th Century.

“Even today e designs dey truly modern, with silhouettes and fabrics wey don inspire many contemporary designers.”

Dem born Cardin for Italy in 1922 but im move go France as pikin. Im begin e fashion career for Paris where im work for firms including Christian Dior, for whom im help create di New Look collection for 1947.

Im set up e own fashion company for 1950 and make e name with visionary designs like di iconic bubble dress for 1954 and e Space Age collection in 1964.

At the end of di 1950s, im launch e first ready-to-wear collection for di Printemps department store. While pop stars and actors like di Beatles and Lauren Bacall were seen wearing Cardin, im cutting-edge designs bin also dey within reach of ordinary customers.

With a good business sense, im also come to recognise di appeal of di name on di label, and allow im own to dey used on goods ranging from sunglasses to perfume, pens and food. However, to some, that expansion dilute di appeal of e core business.