Last night at New York’s French Consulate on the Upper East Side, members of the fashion world’s new and old guards came together to celebrate the latest collections by Pierre Cardin. The evening progressed in three phases that put the maison’s heritage in conversation with its new outlook. “Pierre was mesmerized by the future,” says Basilicati Cardin, Pierre’s nephew and president of the brand. “It is my pleasure to continue his vision, but with a more responsible lens.” 

After watching a short film that paid homage to the late designer’s groundbreaking innovations in women’s ready-to-wear, guests’s attention was directed to the Consulate’s ornate hallway-turned-runway for a presentation of the label’s new collections. Models were decked out in looks from Cardin’s Cosmocorps 3022 offering, which debuted this January in Paris, and from the label’s latest haute couture offering, which was presented in Venice in July. The looks from both collections presented a fresh take on Cardin's fascination with pop-inspired geometric patterns and boxy tailoring.

The festivities were rounded out with the announcement of the brand’s inaugural Young Designers Contest winner. The jury evaluated the contest’s young participants based on their ingenuity, their reinterpretation of the Pierre Cardin signature style, and their use of sustainable materials. The evening’s award was given to HyeRin Lee, a student at the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising in Los Angeles. Lee will receive a three-month, paid apprenticeship with the Pierre Cardin design team and the chance to see her submitted designs materialize. “In Hye, we saw a unique vision,” says Basilicati. “We look forward to working with her, and hope it is only the beginning.”