The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakesh is a beautifully designed space that holds different stories and has historical significance. It was intended to pay tribute to one of the most renowned fashion designers of history. This museum not only contains artistic masterpieces but is also full of mystical stories and the cultural connection between Yves Saint Lawrence and the city of Marrakesh. Visiting this place will help you understand how Saint Laurent sharpened his artistic skills while getting emotionally connected to Marrakesh. Let’s have a look at the story behind the Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakesh:
Yves Saint Laurent’s Connection with Marrakech, Morocco?
Saint Laurent was born in Algeria and holds Algerian French nationality. In 1996, he visited Marrakesh for the first time with his partner Pierre Berge. During his first visit, he felt a strong sense of belonging in the city. He said that this place has opened his sense of imagination and thinking. The beautiful landscapes of Marrakesh, especially the rhythmic souks, vibrant colours and the elegance of Moroccan craftsmanship, influenced his fashion sense and broadened his vision that Paris could never.
Saint Lauren actually belongs to Paris, France, where the world operates with rigid structures, and there is little artistic freedom. However, Marrakesh is a lively city that offers freedom. For him, Marrakesh was like an escape from the deadlines, pressures and the global demands. For Saint Lauren, this was the exact place where he could breathe in fresh air and feel the surroundings -all that an artist needs. This emotional bond and the sense of belonging is the root of the museum’s story.
The Vision Behind the Yves Saint Laurent Museum
While living in Marrakesh, Saint Laurent worked on his many creations. However, he passed in 2008, and after that, his partner Pierre Berge decided to preserve his masterpieces along with his relation to this city that encouraged him to express himself. In 2017 Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakesh was inaugurated with a vision of preserving the spirit of the city crafted in the art of Saint Laurent.
Location
This museum is in the iconic Jardin Majorelle. It’s exactly the place where Saint Laurent lived for decades. The location was wisely selected to preserve his deep inspiration of Marrakesh. As a traveller, you must visit this exceptional museum. Although public transportation is available, you may need to walk a short distance to reach the museum. Therefore, it is better to hire a personal driver from Private Driver Marrakesh to reach the destination on time with ease and convenience. Moreover, these drivers are experienced and will help you understand the story behind Saint Laurent Marrakesh in a nutshell.
Emotional essence of the museum
This museum is in the same place where Saint Laurent died. His ashes were scattered in this garden. So, in that way, this museum honours an emotional connection and is a place of YSL eternal rest.
The Crafting Style of Yves Saint Laurent
Saint Laurent was highly inspired and fascinated by Moroccan craftsmanship. He loved the hangover textiles and traditional embroidery done by the people of Marrakesh. He often visited souks and spent hours observing the intricate details of different patterns that appeared on other objects, such as brass materials. He incorporated many elements of Moroccan art into his aesthetic couture collections, demonstrating his affinity for Moroccan culture.
How was the Yves Saint Laurent Museum Built?
The Yves Saint Laurent Museum is a masterpiece. It has a beautiful architecture that was also inspired by the designer’s style. Studio KO designed this museum. It reflects Lawrence’s sense of fashion. You will find many bold lines, beautiful structures and minute detailing on each wall reflecting Saint Lawrence’s approach. Each detailing symbolises something; for instance, the interior comes in various textures that reflect the clothing fabrics, such as velvet, satin, and embroidered. You will witness beautiful mirrors, like a woman on a fabric, and smooth terracotta curves that enhance the beauty of the museum.
Blend of Moroccan Design
The architecture of the Saint Laurent Museum is a blend of Moroccan culture with modern designs. There, you will find numerous Moroccan crafts and earth-toned materials reflecting Marrakech’s city colour palette. All these things reflect the relationship of Saint Lawrence with this city and serve as a perfect example of the timeless, innovative structures of Morocco.
The collection of iconic pieces
In the museum, you will find the most iconic pieces of Saint Laurent. It includes the following:
- A Mondrian dress- It is a kind of dress that’s like a canvas where different artistic patterns are crafted
- Tuxedo (Le Smoking)- It’s a woman’s suit that Saint Laurent first designed, and it became a symbol of revolution among women. It gives women freedom, power and a unique fashion sense. It comes with a collar and cuffs that blurred the boundaries of fashion and power between men and women.
- The museum also contains African, Asian, and Moroccan-inspired clothes.
- Here, you can find a variety of gowns that reflect a high fashion sense.
- You will see sketches of designs that were crafted in early times.
- Pierre Berge has also preserved many belongings of YSL, which gives this museum a homey feel.
The Exhibitions of the Museums
In this museum, numerous exhibitions are commonly organised. It allows you to explore photography, global fashion articles, Moroccan cultural crafts, textile art, and many other aspects of the world. All these things keep the museum culturally enriched, refreshed, and relevant.
The Museum’s Research Library and Archives
YSL Museum also features a research library where you can find more than 6000 books with a similar theme of fashion and history. You can have detailed information on textile designing and how YSL personally craft his masterpieces. Here, you will also find information about Morocco’s renowned Berber culture. This library is the most visited place for fashion designers and scholars, as it helps them understand the evolution of world Fashion.
The Auditorium of the Museum
This museum also has a basic auditorium with around 150 seats. Here, many movies, cultural talks, fashion, discussions and international conferences are organised to encourage and to support the influence of culture on Fashion.
Importance of the Saint Laurent Museum Today
Even today, this museum remains significant to Marrakesh because it serves as a living testament to creativity, cultural fusion, Moroccan heritage, Marrakesh’s artistic values, fashion, and a sense of belonging for people around the world. This museum serves as a bridge between Morocco and the global fashion world. As this is a cultural hub, different designers present their unique styles and ideas.
Conclusion
The Yves Saint Laurent Museum in Marrakesh is not just a traditional museum with historical significance. It’s a place where you will find the history of Saint Laurent. The story evolves around how his soul finds peace in the colourful and peaceful city of Marrakesh. It reflects the peace Moroccan culture gave to him and how he dedicated his life in bringing out the true artistic values of the Moroccan culture into the global fashion. He introduced the beautiful wardrobe for women, and his fellow Pierre preserved the creative spirit of YSL forever in this museum.
