Pierre Bergé facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Pierre Bergé
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Bergé in 2012
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| Born |
Pierre Vital Georges Bergé
14 November 1930 Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, Charente-Maritime, France
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| Died | 8 September 2017 (aged 86) Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
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| Occupation | Businessman |
| Spouse(s) |
Madison Cox
(m. 2017) |
| Partner(s) | Yves Saint Laurent |
Pierre Vital Georges Bergé (14 November 1930 – 8 September 2017) was a French businessman and a strong supporter of the arts. He helped start the famous fashion brand Yves Saint Laurent. He was also a close business partner and friend of the designer Yves Saint Laurent for many years.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Pierre Bergé was born in Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, on Oléron Island, France, on 14 November 1930. His mother, Christiane, was a teacher who used special teaching methods. His father worked for the tax office.
Bergé went to school at Lycée Eugène Fromentin in La Rochelle. Later, he moved to Paris. On his first day there, a famous French poet named Jacques Prévert accidentally fell near him from a window. Bergé later said he saw this as a sign that his life in Paris would be interesting.
In his early years in Paris, Bergé met important writers like Albert Camus and Sartre. He joined groups that wanted social change. He also became friends with the young French artist Bernard Buffet and helped him become successful.
Career in Fashion
Starting Yves Saint Laurent
Pierre Bergé met Yves Saint Laurent in 1958. They became close friends and decided to start their own fashion house together in 1961. This was the beginning of the famous Yves Saint Laurent brand.
In 1976, they decided to live separately but stayed close friends and business partners for the rest of their lives. Bergé was the CEO of Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture until it closed in 2002. He worked hard to protect the good name of Yves Saint Laurent. He was known as a very important person in the world of Yves Saint Laurent.
A few days before Yves Saint Laurent passed away in 2008, he and Bergé entered a special civil partnership in France. When Yves Saint Laurent became very ill, Pierre Bergé and the doctor decided it was best not to tell him how serious his illness was. Bergé believed Yves would not have been strong enough to hear the news.
After the fashion house closed, Bergé became the head of the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. This foundation works to preserve the history and legacy of Yves Saint Laurent.
Pierre Bergé often spoke about his long friendship with Yves Saint Laurent. He once said, "The love never stopped."
Supporting Arts and Causes
Pierre Bergé was known for supporting many cultural and political causes. He was a social liberal and a political conservative. He supported different political leaders in France over the years.
He was a big fan of opera. He became the president of the Opéra Bastille in Paris in 1988 and stayed in that role until 1994. He also led the Médiathèque Musicale Mahler, which is a library with many collections about music. He owned the rights to all the works of the French artist Jean Cocteau.
Bergé was a strong supporter of gay rights. He helped groups that fought against AIDS, like Sidaction, and became its president in 1996. He also owned the magazine Têtu, which is for the LGBT community.
In 1992, Bergé was named a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador. This means he helped promote UNESCO's goals around the world.
Art Collection and Museums
Pierre Bergé and Yves Saint Laurent had a large art collection. In 2009, Bergé decided to sell parts of this collection. Among the items were two bronze statue heads that were taken from China many years ago. China asked for these statues to be returned. Bergé initially refused, linking their return to human rights issues in China. Later, the statues were returned to China by another person.
Bergé also helped create the museum of Berber art in Marrakesh, Morocco. This museum shows many objects from the Berber people across Morocco.
In 2010, Bergé wrote a book called Lettres à Yves. He also bought a share in the French newspaper Le Monde.
Awards and Recognition
Pierre Bergé received many important awards for his work and contributions. These included the Order of Orange-Nassau, Officer of the Ordre National du Mérite, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, and Legion of Honor.
Personal Life
Pierre Bergé had a long partnership with Yves Saint Laurent, who passed away in 2008. He also had a ten-year partnership with the artist Bernard Buffet.
On 31 March 2017, Pierre Bergé married Madison Cox, who is a landscape architect. They were married in Paris.
Death
Pierre Bergé passed away on 8 September 2017, in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. He was 86 years old.
See also
- Majorelle Garden
