The fashion world is mourning the loss of Pierre Cardin. The designer, known for his boundary-pushing decision to introduce a ready-to-wear arm to his high-fashion atelier, has passed away peacefully at the age of 98, his family confirmed in a statement. A favourite of The Beatles, Jeanne Moreau and Mia Farrow, Cardin’s designs and approach defined the mid-century aesthetic, embracing the era’s fascination with outer space and technology.

Not only was it Cardin’s aesthetic that proved futuristic. The Italian-French designer also had a particularly forward-looking approach to business. Cardin pioneered the now popular approach to licensing – lending his name to various endeavours, from kitchen appliances to sunglasses – and also invested in some of France’s most characterful properties, from an 11th-century castle in Provence to the instantly recognisable Bubble Palace on the Côte d’Azur. He also transformed storied Paris restaurant Maxim’s and was the feature of many solo retrospectives, including at the V&A museum in 1990.