Yves Saint Laurent co-founder Pierre Berge has died at 86. The French fashion star passed away in his sleep on Friday, at his country home in Saint-Remy-de- Provence, southern France, following a long illness. A statement has been released via The Pierre Berge Foundation - Yves Saint Laurent, Paris and the Majorelle Garden Foundation, Marrakech.
Berge started his iconic label in 1961 with designer Saint Laurent, who was also his partner, creating one of the most revered labels in the fashion industry. The pair were joined in a civil union a few days before Saint Laurent died of a brain tumour in 2008.
As well as his work in the fashion field, Berge was a campaigner for gay rights and donated part of his fortune to AIDS research.
"He was a magician who made his life and those who he loved a symphony of happiness," former French culture minister Jack Lang said.
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"Pierre Berge was above all a marvellous and loyal friend... who was there to take on all the good fights, the noble causes, in particular to provide the means for research to defeat AIDS."
In 1974 the fashion tycoon became president of the French designer's union, and 12 years later he founded the prestigious French Fashion Institute.
In 2014 after the release of the Yves Saint Laurent biopic, Berge spoke about his time with the master designer,
"The movie doesn't take sides. It reflects a truth," he told WWD. "All men have a dark side and a light side. My life with Yves Saint Laurent was no fairytale. I wouldn't change a thing. You know, when it's not your project and you trust someone - Jalil (Lespert, director), in this instance - you have to accept things. You must not focus on details you dislike. Of course there are details I don't like, but that is of no importance whatsoever. You have to take the movie as it is - as a whole."
Prior to his death, Berge was credited with helping French president Emmanuel Macron into office, with Town And Country Magazine calling him one of the "most powerful men in France".