From Haute Couture house to Fondation

In 1974, the Yves Saint Laurent haute couture house, which had been located at 30 bis rue Spontini since it was established in 1961, moved to a hôtel particulier at 5 avenue Marceau dating back to the Second Empire. Yves Saint Laurent would go on to spend nearly thirty years there pursuing his career as a couturier.
During a press conference on January 7, 2002, Saint Laurent announced his intention to cease his career as a couturier and close the haute couture house. Two years later following extensive renovation of the building, the Fondation Pierre Bergé - Yves Saint Laurent opened its doors.

© Patrick Demarchelier
© Patrick Demarchelier

The Fondation, which has been recognized as a public utility, has three primary aims:

  • The preservation of haute couture and ready-to-wear clothing and accessories, preparatory sketches for the collections, relevant documents, and various drawings and objects related to Saint Laurent’s body of work;
  • The organization of exhibitions devoted to fashion, painting, photography, the decorative arts, contemporary art, and Saint Laurent’s work in both its own exhibition spaces (from 2004 to 2016) and at outside institutions in France and abroad;
  • The support of institutions and cultural projects.
© Fred Merz / Lundi 13
© Fred Merz / Lundi 13

Two Yves Saint Laurent museums

With the opening of the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Paris, the building at 5 avenue Marceau will serve a new purpose, opening to the public with double the exhibition space and focusing solely on Saint Laurent’s body of work.

“I have always said that memories should be transformed into projects, and that is what we have done with this Fondation. 2017 marks a new chapter with the opening of two Yves Saint Laurent museums in Paris and Marrakech. And so the adventure we began so long ago, when we didn’t know what fate would have in store for us, continues.” — Pierre Bergé

Board of Directors

Monsieur Yves Saint Laurent, Founder, Honorary President ✝
Monsieur Pierre Bergé, Founder, Honorary President ✝

Monsieur Madison Cox, Founder, President
Madame Maxime Catroux, Vice President
Monsieur Laurent Levasseur, Secretary General
Monsieur Philippe de Cossé Brissac, Treasurer

Madame Francesca Bellettini
Maître Antoine Godeau
Monsieur Laurent Le Bon
Madame Paloma Picasso
Madame Bérengère Primat
Monsieur Alexander Vreeland
Maître Mustapha Zine

Government Commissioner: Madame la préfète de région Nicole Klein
External auditor : Monsieur Paul Prud'homme
Legal counsel : Maître Grégoire Gauger

Director : Monsieur Laurent Gardette

A Bureau and Finance and Patronage Committees assist the Board of Directors in determining the Fondation’s strategic objectives, in managing its resources, in monitoring its budgets, accounts and patronage.

The Foundation also protects the moral rights to the work of Yves Saint Laurent, as well as his image rights and his name.

In Marrakech

Jardin Majorelle

The Jardin Majorelle, saved from destruction by Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé in 1980, is now one of the most visited places in Morocco.

Visit the website

Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech

Discover the other museum devoted to Yves Saint Laurent in the city he loved so dearly.

Visit the website

See also