The charm of Jardin Majorelle, the Moroccan garden loved by Yves Saint Laurent! (1936 ~ 2008)

Yves Saint Laurent

Dressing is a way of life.

Dressing is a way of life.

The life of fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent 1936–2008

The story of Yves Saint Laurent is a legend. His life was one of the brightest stars of the golden age of couture. From childhood, he grew up pursuing modern design and elegance. His true sparkle began after he was inspired by a play he saw with his mother.

Since then, he has worked with the fashion industry's biggest names and developed his own unique style. His designs have become more than just clothes; they have become a revolution symbolizing women's rights and freedom. Yves Saint Laurent is remembered as a designer who changed the history of couture forever. His story will forever remain a legend in the fashion world.

Yves Saint Laurent, from the crown prince of Parisian couture to the king of late 20th century fashion

How a legendary couturier changed fashion

Dressing up is one way we express ourselves. But behind that simple act, there are decades of struggle and courage. Designers have changed fashion with innovative ideas and passion that go beyond convention. One of them is Yves Saint Laurent.

His fashion went beyond mere clothing, such as putting pants on women, and made it a symbol of women’s rights and freedom. His history is one of the legends that will remain in the pantheon of the fashion world.

"I don't like the word elegance. I think it's old-fashioned, like the word haute couture… Everything has changed. It's a way of life, not a way of dressing."

Yves Saint Laurent and Christian Dior

In 1957, Christian Dior died suddenly of a heart attack. He left the leadership of his eponymous label, then the largest and most important house in the fashion world, to the 21-year-old Yves Saint Laurent, who became the world’s youngest designer with no experience in running a haute couture house.

"Yves Saint Laurent is a young but amazing designer. He created 34 of the 180 designs in my last collection. I think it's time to reveal it to the press. It won't harm my reputation."

– Christian Dior in conversation is Jacques Rouet, 1957

Yves Saint Laurent's Blue Oasis

What was the source of inspiration for Yves Saint Laurent? We introduce the garden of Yves Saint Laurent, which gave him various thoughts and inspirations in life. He recalls that the Marjolein Garden was an endless source of inspiration for his works. Saint Laurent loved the Marjolein Garden in Morocco. This garden was a villa with a mixture of Art Deco and Moorish styles that the French painter Jacques Majorel devoted 40 years to creating.

Saint Laurent's Villa, Marjolein Gardens, Morocco

In the 1980s, the Majorelle Garden was an old place looking for an owner. However, Majorelle’s fate was changed by the hands of Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé, the fashion giants of the time. The restoration of this garden was led by the botanist and gardener Abderzak Ben-Chabaneh. The garden, which covers approximately 9,000 m², is home to a variety of plants, including local varieties. They worked to restore this tranquil place and create a beautiful foundation.

The Majorelle Gardens were not just beautiful gardens. They contained the passion of Jacques Majorelle and the extraordinary soul of an artist. As a child, Jacques Majorelle dreamed of becoming a painter, but due to illness, he lost almost everything and was sent to the rich lands of Morocco.

Majorelle made this place a place for art and developed a beautiful color called cobalt blue. He then painted the buildings and gardens here beautifully. The color was named after him, 'Blue Majorelle'. Even today, the Majorelle Garden remains a space that stimulates the imagination and dreams of many people around the world, as Majorelle's artistic talent and the garden that Yves Saint Laurent loved.

Saint Laurent's Garden of Inspiration,

The blue of 'Majorelle Blue'

The bold cobalt blue building against the red soil of Marrakech, Morocco, makes a striking impression, called 'Majorelle Blue'. There are various theories as to why this color was chosen, but the most convincing one is that Jacques was inspired by the windows of local houses located in the Atlas Mountains.

Since 2010, the Majorelle Gardens have been owned by the French non-profit Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. Since 2011, it has been run by the Jardin Majorelle Foundation, a local non-profit organization in Marrakech. Pierre Bergé served as a trustee of the foundation until his death.

In the garden and museum section, the garden and the buildings together form a complex environment. Certain buildings are used as various museums, offering visitors a variety of exhibitions. The extensive garden covers an area of ​​10,117.375 square meters and is open to the public daily, displaying important collections of cacti and sculptures.

After Yves Saint Laurent passed away in 2008, he was buried in the Majorelle Gardens, which he loved. This makes the strong bond between his presence and the gardens last forever. The Majorelle Gardens thus become a page in a beautiful story of past and present, art and love, and human nostalgia. A monument and museum were also built to commemorate Yves.

The Marjolein Garden by Yves Saint Laurent

Even today, the Majorelle Gardens, filled with their devotion, continue to tell beautiful stories and provide inspiration to people around the world.

Majorelle's former studio was formerly the home of the Marrakech Museum of Islamic Art, which housed Saint Laurent's personal collection of North African textiles, as well as ceramics and jewels.

However, since 2011, the villa is now home to the Berber Museum, which exhibits items from the Amazigh (Berber) culture. The villa also houses a collection of Majorelle paintings.

The development of the garden complex continues. Every year, the profits from the gardens are used to fund new projects. It has become one of the most important tourist attractions in Marrakech. In October 2017, the Yves Saint Laurent Museum opened to the public, celebrating the history of the area and the designer's legacy.

The Yves Saint Laurent Gardens attract over 700,000 visitors each year, preserving the unique environment of North Africa. The gardens are home to a variety of birds, with over 15 species of birds native to North Africa. There are also several fountains and a remarkable collection of cacti, providing a rich experience for visitors.

As such, the Majorelle Garden, known as the most enchanting garden in Morocco, is crowded with tourists from the morning. This is another precious legacy left by Yves Saint Laurent.

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