Pierre Bergé

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Pierre Bergé (November 14, 1930- ) is a French industrialist and patron. He is perhaps best known as the co-founder of Yves Saint Laurent Couture House and sometime companion of Fashion icon Yves Saint Laurent.

Contents 1 Early life 2 Yves Saint Laurent 3 Philanthropic, cultural, and political interests 4 Recognition 5 References

[edit] Early life

He was born at in Oléron (Charente-Maritime). His mother Christiane was an amateur soprano and a progressist teacher who used the Montessori method. His father worked for the tax office and was a great rugby enthusiast. Bergé attended the Lycée Eugène Fromentin in La Rochelle, and later went to Paris. On the day of his arrival, as he was walking on the Champs-Élysées, French poet Jacques Prévert fell on him while attempting suicide.^[1][2]

[edit] Yves Saint Laurent

Main article: Yves Saint Laurent (designer)

Bergé met Yves Saint Laurent in 1958. They became romantically involved and together launched Yves Saint Laurent Couture House in 1961. The couple split romantically in 1976 but remained friends and business partners.^[3] Bergé acted as C.E.O. of Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture until it shuttered in 2002. Highly protective and invested in the reputation and legacy of Saint Laurent Couture, Bergé was known as the "Dean of Yves Saint Laurent"^[4]

In 1992, Bergé sold shares of the fashion house just before the company released a poor economic report. In 1996, this action was deemed to be insider trading and he was sentenced to a fine of one million Francs.^[5] After the close of the Couture House, Bergé became President of The Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent Foundation.^[6]

On June 2, 2008, it was Bergé who announced the death to the world of Yves Saint Laurent, who had died after a long illness.^[7]

[edit] Philanthropic, cultural, and political interests

In 1987 Bergé launched the French magazine Globe, which supported the candidacy of François Mitterrand for the presidential election. Bergé participated in all the campaign rallies of François Mitterrand (contrary to 1981, when he did not vote for Mitterrand^{[citation needed]}). Bergé later went on to serve as President of the association of the friends of Institut François-Mitterrand. In 1993, he helped to launch the magazine Globe Hebdo.

A longtime fan and patron of Opera, Mitterrand appointed Bergé president of Opéra Bastille on August 31st 1988. He retired from the post in 1994, becoming honorary President of the Paris National Opera. He currently serves as President of the Médiathèque Musicale Mahler, a non-profit organization dedicated to the public presentations of 19th and 20th century music.^[8]

A supporter of gay rights, he supported the association against AIDS, Act Up-Paris, and assumed ownership of the magazine Têtu. He was also one of the shareholders of Pink TV, before withdrawing. In 1994, he participated with Line Renaud in the creation of the AIDS association Sidaction, and he became its president in 1996, a position he still holds today. Sidaction is one of the main associations fighting AIDS in Europe.

Bergé's philanthropic patronages have included UNESCO. In July, 1992, Bergé was appointed UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.^[9]

In 2007 he supported the candidacy of Ségolène Royal.^{[citation needed]}

[edit] Recognition

Bergé has been recognized with the Ordre d'Orange-Nassau, Officer of the Ordre National du Mérite, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, and Legion of Honor.^[10]

[edit] References