Last fall, two museums dedicated to Yves Saint Laurent their doors. Paris and Marrakech, two cities deeply connected to Yves Saint Laurent and his work. Pierre Berge, Saint Laurents life partner who stood by his side through his darkest and brightest moments and his foundation, the Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent are opening two museums dedicated to the late designer who shaped the industry and pushed boundaries from his beginnings at Christian Dior to his final collection in 2002.
How would you like to be remembered? – “As an artist who created a body of work” – Yves Saint Laurent, 1992
Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris
Located in Yves Saint Laurent’s former studios at 5, avenue Marceau, the Parisian Musée Yves Saint Laurent opened on October 3rd, 2017, fittingly during Paris Fashion Week. There, where Saint Laurent has spent the last 30 years of his work life designing the collections of the couture house, is now the Foundation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent. In rotating exhibitions, the foundation’s rich and unique collection of the late designer’s work will be displayed for the public, as well as Saint Laurents former workspace and the legendary couture salons. Visitors get an insight into the incredible work and the processes for the creations of the designer’s legendary collections.
“It will be exactly as it used to be at the time of the couture house and only a few people have ever stepped foot in it,” says Nathalie Crinière, designer of the Parisian exhibition space. “It is in that room that all his collections were born. It’s a very emotional space because we’re keeping the original layout.”
Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech
Ever since Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé first visited Marrakech in 1966, they fell in love with the city and especially with the Jardin Majorelle. Back then, the garden was supposed to be demolished to make room for a new hotel which led to the couple purchasing the space and making it their home.
Following Saint Laurents deep connection to Marrakech, where he often went to in order to escape Paris, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech is located alongside the Jardin Majorelle. It will be home to 5.000 haute couture pieces, as well as thousands of photographs, sketches, drawings and 15.000 accessories.
Designed by the Parisian architecture office Studio KO, the style of the museum is supposed to both reflect the unique patterns Saint Laurent established throughout his career as well as being an ode to Morroco and Saint Laurent’s love for the country.
