Legendary French designer Pierre Cardin who revolutionised fashion in 1950s and 60s dies at 98

He breathed his last in a hospital in Neuilly, near Paris, his family told the AFP news agency.

"It is a day of great sadness for all our family. Pierre Cardin is no more," his family said in a statement. "We are all proud of his tenacious ambition and the daring he has shown throughout his life."

France’s Academy of Fine Arts confirmed the news in a tweet.

“It is with great sadness that the members of the Academy of Fine Arts announce the death of their fellow member Pierre Cardin," the academy tweeted, reported France24.

After the announcement of his death, Pierre Cardin's official facebook page also confirmed the news along with one of his quotes:

'′′ I didn't want fashion to remain a privilege.' Pierre Cardin. One of the best fashion designers on earth, Monsieur Pierre Cardin, the founder of our brand, closed his eyes today at the age of 98 We Remember With Respect."

Cardin was born in Italy but migrated to France in 1922 as a small child. Before launching his own designer brand, he worked with top French couture houses such as Christian Dior.

He is credited with bringing fashion to the masses by launching some of the first ready-to-wear collections and making them available in departmental stores in the late 1950s. He is also considered the pioneer of licensing in fashion, plastering his name on a wide range of products.

The 1960s and 70s saw his new and experimental ideas and methods with bubble dresses and geometrical designs that shook traditional fashion.

While he no longer presented runway fashion, he was known to mentor young designers and remained active in the fashion world making appearances at parties and events.