Fashion designing 'my drug': Pierre Cardin

TOKYO, Nov 9, 2010 AFP © - French fashion legend Pierre Cardin described his job as a "drug" that brings him the joys of life Tuesday, saying he would keep working in a career that has already spanned six decades.

Pierre Cardin. Photo : AFP

"It's a job I love. It's my passion, it's my drug," Cardin, 88, told a press conference in Tokyo ahead of events to mark the 60th anniversary of his firm, which says it owns licences for around 1,000 products sold under his name.

Despite what many might think, "I still pursue it," said the last active survivor of the great postwar Paris fashion houses.

From his cluttered office Cardin runs one of the world's most successful fashion empires, which has remained under his sole ownership for 60 years, even as other couture houses have fallen to corporate buyers.

Cardin said being a designer had become harder as fashion now changes so fast.

"There are so many designers around the world. In every country it is impossible to change fashion every year because it's stupid," he said. "Clothes are very expensive, you know.

"There are lot of designs that are beautiful, crazy, fantastic to the eyes. But they they are not fashion for tomorrow," he said, arguing they would not endure.