The fashion world is mourning the passing of Pierre Cardin, a celebrated French fashion designer who pioneered Space Age style in the 1960s, popularizing sleek, geometric designs.

Born Pietro Costante Cardin, the legendary designer died at the American Hospital of Paris at the age of 98.

Cardin is among celebrated fashion designers that France-based Rwandan model Josephine Kabagema modeled for.

According to Kabagema, no one, other than her family, knew that she was Rwandan as most people, including Cardin, assumed she was either American or from the Caribbean.

"I modeled for him [Cardin] for many years without him knowing that I was Rwandan,” Kabagema recalls.

Cardin realised that Kabagema was Rwandan when, shortly after the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi, she initiated ‘Alliance Pour Le Rwanda’, designed to shine a light on the atrocities that had happened in the country.

Through the initiative, she encouraged fellow Africans to speak to the world about the horror in Rwanda.

She also used her connections to brands like Givenchy and Cardin to create awareness on the Genocide over radio and television.

"He [Cardin] had been a great comfort for me in 1994 when he realized that I was Rwandan. He helped me through his network to alert as many people as possible about the genocide against the Tutsi that was going on in Rwanda,” she recalls.

France-based Rwandan model Josephine Kabagema modeled for French fashion designer Pierre Cardin. / Net photo

Kabagema also used the initiative to build a water facility in the then Gahini District, now Kayonza, in the Eastern Province.

According to Kabagema, the world will miss a fashion giant in Cardin who, in his 20s, made a fashion mark in Europe when he founded the House of Cardin in 1950.

"I have good memories from a couple of years I worked for Pierre Cardin. I was saddened to learn that he passed away. We were so close! [He is] A big loss indeed, but a big legacy too,” she said.

Kabagema recalls that Cardin played a role to the development of her modeling career because, thanks to working with him, she was able to get big connections with more celebrated fashion designers who they worked with on several commercial activities.

"In 1994, I was a special model for Cardin and eventually more designers got to know me for what a big brand I was modeling for. The more you work for different designers the more they want to book you and Cardin was one of the 10 Grands Couturiers in Paris,” she said.

Kabagema is passionate about promoting fashion, humanitarianism and campaigns about social change, especially those related to Rwanda.

She was part of the jury during the Miss Rwanda 2016 beauty pageant and has participated in various editions of local fashion podiums like the Rwanda Cultural Fashion Show, Kigali Fashion Week, Rwanda’s Next Top Model, to name a few.

Apart from Pierre Cardin, Kabagema modeled for noticeable brands like Givenchy, Thierry Mugler, Petrovitch and Robinson, among others.

"Hubert de Givenchy and Pierre Cardin were my favorites… artistically and humanly,” she added.

About Pierre Cardin

Pierre Cardin was a legendary haute couture designer whose career in the fashion industry spanned over six decades.

Throughout his career, Cardin drew both admiration and scorn from fashion insiders for his sharp business sense.

Born in Treviso, Italy, Cardin’s family moved to France when he was still a child.

Cardin grew up in the French industrial town of Saint Etienne and was apprenticed to a tailor in Vichy at the age of 17 where he specialized in women’s suits.

Moving to Paris, he designed the mesmerizing sets and costumes for Jean Cocteau’s classic film Beauty And the Beast in 1947.

After a stint with Christian Dior, he set up his own fashion label in 1950.