Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion at the Brooklyn Museum

The retrospective exhibition Pierre Cardin: Future Fashion traces the legendary career of one of the fashion world’s most innovative designers, one whose futuristic designs and trailblazing efforts to democratize high fashion for the masses pushed the boundaries of the industry for more than seven decades. Featuring over 170 objects that date from the 1950s to the present, the exhibition includes haute couture and ready-to-wear garments, accessories, photographs, film, and other materials drawn primarily from the Pierre Cardin archive. Highlights range across rare designs in luxury fabrics from the 1950s; a large grouping from the landmark 1964 “Cosmocorps” collection; creations that incorporate vinyls, plastics, and the self-named “Cardine” synthetic fabric; signature unisex ensembles featuring full knit bodysuits with layered skirts, vests, bibs, and jewelry; iconic broad-shouldered jackets from the 1980s based on Japanese origami, Chinese architecture, and American football uniforms; “illuminated” jumpsuits and dresses; and an extensive overview of Cardin’s recently designed couture menswear and eveningwear. The exhibition reveals how the designer’s bold, futuristic aesthetic had a pervasive influence not only on fashion, but on other forms of design that extended beyond clothing to furniture, industrial design, and more.