Pierre Cardin Labels: History and How to Date Them
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Pierre Cardin (1922 to 2020) opened his own couture house in 1950 and became the leading name of 1960s Space Age fashion. From the late 1960s he licensed his name on hundreds of products, so for dating and value the key question is whether a piece is his own design work or a licensed product.
Company history
The Vintage Fashion Guild (VFG) records that Cardin worked at Paquin and Schiaparelli after the Second World War, then headed the workrooms at Christian Dior from 1946 and helped develop the 1947 New Look. He started his own couture house in 1950 and a ready-to-wear line in 1959, a bold step for a French couturier then. From 1964 his futuristic collections featured severe A-line minis with cut-outs and moulded forms, helmet hats and catsuits. From the late 1960s he licensed his name, at one time to over 800 products. The VFG suggests collectors will find his 1950s, 1960s and very early 1970s designs most desirable.
Label timeline
| Label or clue | Approximate dates | What it tells you |
|---|---|---|
| Pierre Cardin couture | From 1950 | His own house |
| Pierre Cardin ready-to-wear | From 1959 | Early French designer ready-to-wear |
| Space Age designs | From 1964 | His best-known period |
| Licensed products | From the late 1960s | Made by licensees; usually much lower value |
What it helps date
- Geometric shapes, helmets and tunics define his 1960s look in our hub.
- Licensing is covered in designer label fakes: a licensed product is genuine but not the main line.
Values
The 1960s hub counts 24 Cardin lots at Augusta Auctions from $62 to $3,625, median $437. Prices are estimates as of 2026.
check sold prices for pierre cardin vintage 1960s dress on eBay
Sources
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Guides that mention Pierre Cardin
- 1960s Vintage Clothing: How to Date and Value ItDate and value 1960s clothing: early-60s polish to mod and hippie looks, new synthetics, coil zippers, label laws, and 2026 price ranges.
- How to Spot Fake Designer Labels on Vintage ClothingTell a genuine vintage designer piece from a counterfeit, licensed product or adaptation by checking the label, construction, fabric and history.
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