My dear adventurers (and for all those who feel that way) welcome to my new post! Today I have some strange feeling where joy and sadness are mixed. Joy because I share something new with you from the country that left on me such a significant impression. On the other hand, there is a sense of sadness, because this post is also the last post from this special series of posts from Morocco.
Today I am leading you to an unusual paradise of the forgotten fashion virtuoso – Yves Saint Laurent. Yves Henri Donat Mathieu-Saint-Laurent, better known as Yves Saint Laurent, was the famous French fashion designer born in Algeria, which is today considered one of the greatest names in fashion history. His reputation in the world is enormous, and at the same time many believe that he is actually responsible for the revival of high fashion from the “ashes of the sixties” and is attributed to the introduction of suits for women. Some people thought that he was crazy, some challenged him, but Saint Laurent was the man who always went ahead of his time. Huge support in his work were provided by famous ladies, singers and actresses and one of them was Catherine Deneuve.
Before I “get lost” in my blogging enthusiasm, I would like to sincerely thank to the National Moroccan Tourism Office for this exceptional experience that I will remember for a lifetime. Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Okay, you’re surely now wondering what the famous French designer like Saint-Laurent have some relations with Marrakech? Not far from the center of Marrakech, there is a street dedicated to this famous fashion designer, on one side are residential buildings, on the other side is Jardin Majorelle (botanical garden designed by painter Jacques Majorelle). A little far away from the classic Moroccan walls, on the other part of the city in nature and colorful heaven, there was second home of Yves Saint Laurent with his longtime partner Pierre Berge.
The house of unusually blue colour with bright shades of yellow was the home of a well-known fashion designer. The villa is surrounded by unusual African plants, but it was also the symbol of Saint Laurent and his eccentricity.
The villa that used for escaping from the real world, today attracts several hundred thousand people a year. All the adventurers who finds their way to Marrakech, just can’t skip this little paradise. Thanks to Berger, this site became available to the public after the death of the fashion designer so that all lovers of the work of Saint Laurent could enjoy the beauty of this garden.
Majorelle Garden, a botanical garden, covers an area of nearly ten thousand square meters and is a true artwork in the heart of Marrakech. The garden was designed by a French artist, painter Jacques Majorelle. How the garden looks today, it took almost 40 years. Everything started in 1923 with the planning the appearance of the garden itself, so that only seven years later a villa was built in the heart of the garden, the home of Saint Laurent and Berger, they were home a totally new look in the 1980s and rescued it from decay. Today, the villa and the garden are open to the public.
In addition to the garden and villa in this complex, there is also the Museum of Islamic Art, which offers an interesting selection of exhibits. Samples of textiles from the almost all regions of Africa, as well as samples of textiles from the special collections of Saint Laurent, can be found in this museum. In addition to the textiles in the museum are exhibited objects of ceramics, paintings by Majorelle and other artists.
Just a 2-minute of walking from this extraordinary paradise, in the same street with the is a newly opened museum dedicated to the life and work of the French designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Who would say that during the first Saint Laurent’s visit to Morocco in 1996, Marrakech would leave such a strong impression on the designer that he would then build his home in Marrakech and after his death that Government of Morocco will create a modern museum that would preserve his brilliant work in the fashion world.
A multimedia museum featuring thousands of books and videos, as well as special creations that marked the career of this celebrated designer. For those who are not familiar with his work and life, the fashion house “Yves Saint Laurent” officially closed its doors in 2002 and therefore the YSL brand has officially not exist. The designer withdrew due to illness and went for treatment. The brand has been redeemed, it has remained part of the brand name, and now the brand is called “Saint Laurent,” all sales revenue from the Yves Saint Laurent brand is located in a special foundation that is based on two museums: one in Paris and the other in Marrakech, financed and thus saved the designer’s work from oblivion.
Saint Laurent died in 2008 of brain tumors, but many believe he died of a broken heart because he was no longer able to create his real small art works that he was known to. His ashes were lit in Jardin Majorella because his desire was to enjoy in his garden and after his death. I think that he is very happy now in his small sunny paradise where the bloom of blue and greenery of African plants are running.
The museum is incredible and sincere to be you do not have to be some “blind” fashion lover to understand the work of this fashion genius. The man was unusual, his story in the fashion world will intrigue you and I believe that you, like me in one breath, will read those text lines that are written on the walls of the museum rooms.
He knew everything, his ups and downs, his friendship with Ketrin Denev – the famous French actress who was his best friend for the rest of his life. She was also the only brave to help him with his “crazy” and unusual ideas and together they made many successful campaigns. Yves Saint Laurent, besides the incredible gift for creating clothes and understanding of a woman, was an incredible photographer. The whole room is dedicated to the photos he made with Katherine Denev for his campaigns. On the photo above, I sincerely hope that you can, as much as you can, see the photos that Saint Laurent did with Katherine in Marrakech on the famous Souk.
In the museum there is a small cinema hall where you can comfortably accommodate and look at the recapitulation of this designer’s work and some interesting facts about his life. To visit this museum and botanical garden peacefully, and if you want to sit a little in the garden and feel the peace and beauty of nature, you should spend at least 2 to 3 hours. After that, you can continue to explore the heart of Morocco – Marrakech.
My blog day continued at the Palais Namascar Hotel where we had a small break and a nice brunch. The hotel is exceptional, I’m sure you will open the link to check it out and believe me it’s divine! Morocco’s Tourist Organisation has tried to show us the best that can be found in Marrakech.
Palais Namascar is a true paradise on earth and those who have the opportunity to visit Marrakech will not regret it because it is a combination of paradise surrounded by sun and hedonism garden where all your senses will enjoy.
My dear travelers once again we have come to the end of post, time just flies so fast when you are having a good time! Don’t worry in a couple of days I will publish a new post where we will continue together to enjoy the charms of traveling and we will continue our adventure in Europe. If you need more information about address and work time of Yves Saint Laurent Museum Marrakech please visit this LINK.
How do you like this story about Marrakech? Did you like feel the fashion energy of Saint Laurent’s garden? I would like to hear your opinion! If you have a question, comment, suggestion or message for me, you can write me down in the comments. Of course, as always you can contact me via mail or social media, which you can find on the CONTACT page.
As I promised we’ll see again in a couple of days, so if something new and interesting happens to me, I promise, I will write to you!
Best,
Mr.M
My dear Marko, I LOVE THIS POST SO MUCH! I’m a huge fan of your blog and of YSL work! I knew that YSL Museum in Paris exist, but I didn’t know that also YSL Fondation has the museum in Marrakech! It’s beautiful!!! ?? This is the last post?! You didn’t make your famous outfit fashion post in this beautiful garden and YSL museum???!
Hello Marko, today I did some research for my student project about fashion designers and my assignment is Yves Saint Laurent. Could you please help me? I think you will see my email in the box when I leave you a comment. Your blog really rock! Absolutely amazing photos and the story is great.
Xoxo Samantha, Denver-Colorado babe! 🙂
I was there 3 years ago but unfortunately I didn’t see the YSL museum because they opened it in 2017 🙁 This looks amazing! I love Morocco and as I can see you did amazing job man, this looks perfect! ??
Hey Marko! How are you? Are you still in Morocco? I would like finally to meet you! Right now I’m in Marrakech and we could talk about potential collaboration. I work for one fashion brand and we need some traveller fashionista like you for a new campaign. Please answer me ASAP! See you
This is fabulous! I love Morroco so much! I reserved my tickets for December and I can’t wait! Your posts help me really a lot, so I know now where to go! This gardens are so beautiful! Enjoy! 🙂