Standing watch over the street of its namesake, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech is a grand homage to one of the greatest fashion designers the world has ever known. Born in 1936 in Algeria, Yves Saint Laurent got his first break in the fashion world by serving as the assistant to Christian Dior. After Dior died, Saint Laurent worked as the artistic director for the House of Dior, presenting his first collection in 1958. The Saint Laurent fashion house went on to redefine women’s fashion with timeless style and powerful elegance.
In Morocco, which was once Saint Laurent’s second home, the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech boasts over 5,000 items of clothing and an astonishing 15,000 accessories from the designer’s collection. Also on display are some of his original documents and sketches for some of his most famous designs. The crown jewel of the museum is Saint Laurent’s groundbreaking “Le Smoking tuxedo,” which created quite a controversy when he introduced it to the women’s fashion world.
At just over 4,000 square meters, the museum’s winding halls, unique architecture, and beautiful landscaping offer surprises at every turn. Since Marrakech was a place of inspiration for the designer, the architects of the museum incorporated a mix of authentic Moroccan building materials and textures with facades that feel reminiscent of the rich fabrics and bold colors that Saint Laurent used in his designs.
With an onsite café, a bustling bookshop, and the colorful streets of Marrakech as its backdrop, the museum is well worth the stroll down Rue Yves Saint Laurent for lovers of fashion, art, and architecture alike.
