French designer Pierre Cardin has died at age 98. The son of Italian immigrants worked with luminaries such as Jean Cocteau and Christian Dior before launching his own fashion house.
On Tuesday, Cardin’s family announced his death to Agence France-Presse. The French Académie des Beaux-Arts also issued several statements mourning his passing.
“Immense sadness,” said the academy’s Secretary General Cyril Barthalois via Twitter, adding “Equally great joy of having known him” through the academy.
Cardin is known for his eager embrace of brand licensing in the business world, putting his name on products that had nothing to do with high fashion – including frying pans.
The academy did not give a cause of death or say where or when he died.
