Pierre Bergé Explained

Pierre Bergé
Birth Name:Pierre Vital Georges Bergé
Birth Date:14 November 1930
Birth Place:Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, Charente-Maritime, France
Death Place:Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Bouches-du-Rhône, France
Occupation:Businessman
Partner:Victoire Doutreleau Yves Saint Laurent

Pierre Vital Georges Bergé (in French pronounced as /pjɛʁ vital ʒɔʁʒ bɛʁʒe/; 14 November 1930 – 8 September 2017) was a French industrialist and patron. He co-founded the fashion label Yves Saint Laurent, and was a longtime business partner (and onetime lover) of its namesake designer.

Early life and education

Bergé was born in Saint-Pierre-d'Oléron, on the Oléron Island, Poitou-Charentes, on 14 November 1930. His mother, Christiane, was a progressive teacher, who used the Montessori method.[1] His father worked for the tax office.[1] 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 landed on him following a fall from his apartment window.[2] [3] During his early years in Paris, Bergé met both Albert Camus and Sartre through his involvement in leftist organisations, including editing a short-lived leftist magazine.[4] Bergé also befriended and dated[5] the young French artist Bernard Buffet, and helped facilitate Buffet's success.[6] [7]

Career

Yves Saint Laurent

Bergé met Yves Saint Laurent in 1958. They became romantically involved and together launched Yves Saint Laurent Couture House in 1961. The couple split amicably in 1976 and remained lifelong friends and business partners.[8] Bergé acted as CEO of Yves Saint Laurent Haute Couture until it closed in 2002. Highly protective of and invested in the reputation and legacy of Saint Laurent Couture, Bergé was known as the "Dean of Yves Saint Laurent".[9] According to The New York Times, a few days before Saint Laurent died in 2008, he and Bergé were joined in a same-sex civil union known as a pacte civil de solidarité (PACS) in France.[10] When Saint Laurent was diagnosed with brain cancer, Bergé and the doctor mutually decided that it would be better for him not to know of his impending death. Bergé said, "I have the belief that Yves would not have been strong enough to accept that."[11]

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.[12] After the close of the Couture house, Bergé became president of the Pierre Bergé–Yves Saint Laurent Foundation.[13]

During Bergé's eulogy of Saint Laurent, he reflected on their lifetime of memories, saying;

I remember your first collection under your name and the tears at the end. Then the years passed. Oh, how they passed quickly. The divorce was inevitable but the love never stopped.[14]

Philanthropic, cultural, and political interests

Bergé has been described as a social liberal and a political conservative.[15] He voted for Valéry Giscard d’Estaing in the 1970s.[15] In 1988, 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).[16]

Bergé later served as President of the association of the friends of Institut François-Mitterrand. In 1993, he helped to launch the magazine Globe Hebdo.[17]

A longtime fan and patron of opera, Mitterrand appointed Bergé president of Opéra Bastille on 31 August 1988. He retired from the post in 1994, becoming honorary president of the Paris National Opera. He served as president of the Médiathèque Musicale Mahler, a non-profit library with extensive collections relating to 19th and 20th century music.[6] He was also president of the Comité Jean Cocteau, and the exclusive owner of all the moral rights of all of Jean Cocteau's works.[18]

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 until his death.[19]

Bergé's philanthropic patronages have included UNESCO. In July 1992, Bergé was appointed a UNESCO Goodwill Ambassador.[20]

In 2007, he supported the candidacy of Ségolène Royal. On a more general basis, he has been considered to be her sponsor. For example, after late 2008, when she was no longer heading the French socialist party and he was paying for the rental of her political office located between the French Senate and House of Representants until this arrangement ceased on 3 March 2011.[21]

The art collection of Yves Saint Laurent and Bergé was put up for sale by the latter in February 2009, with two of twelve bronze statue heads looted from the Old Summer Palace in China during the Second Opium War among them. When China requested the return of these statues, Bergé refused and declared "I am prepared to offer this bronze head to the Chinese straight away. All they have to do is to declare they are going to apply human rights, give the Tibetans back their freedom and agree to accept the Dalai Lama on their territory." Bergé's self-admitted "political blackmail" was received with criticism in China.[22] After Chinese art collector, businessman, and advisor to the PRC's National Treasures Fund, Cai Mingchao placed the winning bid and refused to pay on "moral and patriotic grounds," Bergé decided to retain ownership of them. Later on in a ceremony on 29 June 2013, François Pinault (CEO Kering) returned the artifacts to the Chinese National Museum, Beijing.[23]

Bergé also set up the museum of Berber art in Marrakesh,[24] Morocco, which holds a collection of Berber objects originating from many different parts of Morocco, from the Rif to the Sahara.[25]

Bergé published a book, Lettres à Yves, in 2010[26] which was translated into English with the title, Yves Saint Laurent: A Morrocan Passion, in September 2014.[27] On 2 November 2010, he bought a stake in Le Monde newspaper, along with investors Matthieu Pigasse and Xavier Niel.[28]

During the filming of Yves Saint Laurent in 2014, the Fondation Pierre Bergé — Yves Saint Laurent, which holds 7,000 vintage outfits from its archives, played an active role in providing authentic material and fashion of Saint Laurent.[29]

Awards

Bergé was recognized with the Order of Orange-Nassau, Officer of the Ordre National du Mérite, Commandeur des Arts et des Lettres, and Legion of Honor.[7]

Positions

In November 2009, Bergé revealed he was suffering from myopathy. He triggered a controversy by accusing the of "parasitising the generosity of French people in a populist manner", [30] of not using donations immediately and making real estate investments. The (AFM), which organises the charitable program, denied Bergé's accusations.[31] Following the repeated attacks by the businessman, the AFM filed a complaint for defamation in February 2010.[32] On 28 June 2013, the 17th Chamber of the Paris Criminal Court sentenced him to a €1,500 fine.[33]

On 16 March 2013, on Twitter, Bergé retweeted the following message: "If a bomb explodes on the Champs Elysees because of the "#laManifPourTous", I won't be the one crying." This retweet triggered strong reactions because, according to the "Manif pour tous" organisation, it is an incitement to acts of terrorism.[34] On 21 June, he appeared on the TV show Le Petit Journal, and mentioned this episode, declaring that he was "non-violent".[35]

During the debate on same-sex marriage, Bergé supported the idea of gestational surrogacy and controversially said "rent her womb for a child or lease her arms to work in a factory, what's the difference?", provoking an outcry by same-sex marriage supporters who go against such positions.[36]

On 26 September 2013, Bergé declared he was in favor of the removal of all Christian holidays in France.[37]

In March 2016, Bergé expressed his position on "modest fashion" in an interview with French Radio Station Europe 1, saying, "I am scandalized. Creators should have nothing to do with Islamic fashion. Designers are there to make women more beautiful, to give them their freedom, not to collaborate with this dictatorship which imposes this abominable thing by which we hide women and make them live a hidden life... In one way they are complicit, and all this to make money. Principles should come before money."[38]

Personal life

Bergé had an on and off relationship with model Victoire Doutreleau for three years in the 1960s.[39]

Bergé's longtime partner was Yves Saint Laurent who died on 1 June 2008, aged 71. His other longtime partner was Bernard Buffet, with whom the relationship lasted for ten years.

On 31 March 2017, Bergé married Madison Cox, a landscape architect and gardener, in Paris.[4] [40]

Death

Bergé died of myopathy on 8 September 2017 in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence at the age of 86.[41]

See also

Notes and References

  1. News: Walden. Celia. Why Yves Saint Laurent was never happy. https://web.archive.org/web/20170912073431/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/4389152/Why-Yves-Saint-Laurent-was-never-happy.html. dead. 12 September 2017. 10 September 2017. The Daily Telegraph. 29 January 2009.
  2. http://www.fondation-pb-ysl.net/en/Secrets-32.html Fondation Pierre Bergé – Yves Saint Laurent | Secrets: 1948 A Poet on the Head
  3. http://www.jacquesprevert.fr/wp-content/uploads/2012/09/Jacques-Pr%C3%A9verts-biography.pdf Fatras – la succession Jacques Prévert | Biography: 1948 October 12th – Prévert falls from the window of the French Broadcasting (Radiodiffusion Française). He is taken to Marmottan hospital and will be several days in a coma.
  4. News: Jonathan Kandell. Pierre Bergé, Transformative Fashion Executive and Opera Czar, Dies at 86. The New York Times. New York City. 8 September 2017. 8 September 2017. 8 September 2017. https://archive.today/20170908182244/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/08/style/pierre-berge-yves-saint-laurent-dead.html. live.
  5. News: Bernard Buffet: Return of the 'poser'. https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220526/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/art/features/bernard-buffet-return-of-the-poser-1645748.html . 26 May 2022 . subscription . live. 16 March 2009. The Independent. 5 November 2017. en-GB.
  6. http://www.mediathequemahler.org/en/category/institution Médiathèque Musicale Mahler – institution
  7. http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=9860&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Biography of Pierre Bergé – UNESCO Celebrity Advocates | UNESCO.org
  8. News: Saint Laurent, Yves. Shaun Cole. glbtq.com. 2002. 25 August 2007. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20070814081121/http://www.glbtq.com/arts/saintlaurent_y.html. 14 August 2007.
  9. http://www.vogue.co.uk/news/daily/080530-pierre-berge-misses-out-on-joining-.aspx Pierre Bergé loses out on joining the Immortals
  10. News: France Salutes the Ultimate Couturier. The New York Times. 6 June 2008. 5 December 2013. 1 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701105027/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/06/world/europe/06ysl.html?_r=1&hp&oref=slogin. live.
  11. http://the-talks.com/interviews/pierre-berge/ Pierre Berge: "Yves Died at the Right Time"
  12. http://www.infomat.com/whoswho/yvessaintlaurent.html Yves Saint Laurent Biography and profiles of fashion designers
  13. http://www.intute.ac.uk/artsandhumanities/cgi-bin/fullrecord.pl?handle=artifact8371 Arts and Humanities – Record is not live
  14. News: Pierre Bergé bids a tearful adieu to designer Yves Saint-Laurent. Elizabeth Snead. 5 June 2008. Los Angeles Times. 28 July 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080608014507/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2008/06/pierre-berger-b.html. 8 June 2008.
  15. News: F.R.. Pierre Bergé was one half of an extraordinary fashion duo. 13 September 2017. The Economist. 12 September 2017. 13 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170913025903/https://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2017/09/man-wheel. live.
  16. Web site: Pierre Bergé sort ses griffes. 21 January 2010. Lexpress.fr. 10 September 2017. 9 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170909004606/http://www.lexpress.fr/actualite/politique/pierre-berge-sort-ses-griffes_843561.html. live.
  17. News: Magoutier. Luc. Pierre Bergé, homme du " Monde ". 10 September 2017. La Croix. 8 September 2017. 10 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910134341/http://www.la-croix.com/Economie/Medias/Pierre-Berge-homme-Monde-2017-09-08-1200875353. live.
  18. Web site: Jean Cocteau – Jean Cocteau Committee. Jeancocteau.net. 10 September 2017. 9 May 2008. https://web.archive.org/web/20080509110054/http://www.jeancocteau.net/comite_en.html. dead.
  19. Web site: DÉCÈS DE PIERRE BERGÉ, PRÉSIDENT DE SIDACTION. Sidaction. 10 September 2017. 8 September 2017. 10 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170910174255/https://www.sidaction.org/actualites/deces-de-pierre-berge-president-de-sidaction-664. live.
  20. http://portal.unesco.org/en/ev.php-URL_ID=10067&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201.html Pierre Bergé – UNESCO Celebrity Advocates | UNESCO
  21. http://www.lefigaro.fr/politique/2009/01/23/01002-20090123ARTFIG00009-le-ps-met-segolene-royal-au-regime-sec-.php Le PS met Ségolène Royal au régime sec – Le Figaro, 23 January 2009
  22. http://english.people.com.cn/90002/96417/6601064.html Political blackmail in disguised form – People's Daily Online
  23. News: Mark McDonald. Carol Vogel. Twist in Sale of Relics Has China Winking. The New York Times. New York City. 2 March 2009. 23 February 2017. 1 July 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170701104423/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/03/world/asia/03auction.html?fta=y. live.
  24. News: Pierre Bergé on His Relationship With Yves Saint Laurent. The New York Times. 11 May 2011. New York. 0362-4331. Marrakesh. 13 September 2012. Sciolino. Elaine. 16 May 2011. https://web.archive.org/web/20110516213148/http://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/12/fashion/pierre-berge-on-his-relationship-with-yves-saint-laurent.html?_r=1&pagewanted=all. live.
  25. Web site: Berber Museum. YSL Foundation. Berber objects originating from regions of Morocco, from the Rif to the Sahara.. 13 September 2012. 4 September 2012. https://web.archive.org/web/20120904034450/http://www.fondation-pb-ysl.net/en/Berber-Museum-583.html. live.
  26. Web site: Pierre Bergé. Pierre Bergé Yves Saint Laurent Foundation. 7 June 2015. 2 July 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150702122902/http://www.fondation-pb-ysl.net/en/Pierre-Berge-518.html. live.
  27. News: Elaine YJ Lee. Inside Pierre Berge's Yves Saint Laurent: A Morrocan Passion Book. 7 June 2015. Selectism. 6 September 2014. 15 September 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150915225025/http://www.selectism.com/2014/09/06/ysl-morrocan-passion-book/. live.
  28. News: Joelle Diderich. Pierre Bergé Sells Têtu Magazine. 7 June 2015. WWD. 19 February 2013. 15 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160315015638/http://wwd.com/globe-news/fashion-memopad/pierre-berg-sells-gay-magazine-ttu-6777152/. live.
  29. Web site: Yves Saint Laurent Biopic Wins Pierre Bergé's Approval. WWD. 10 January 2014. 10 January 2014. Joelle Diderich. 11 January 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140111000154/http://www.wwd.com/eye/people/yves-saint-laurent-biopic-wins-pierre-bergs-approval-7333885?src=nl%2FwkEye%2F20140110. live.
  30. News: L'attaque de Pierre Bergé contre le Téléthon prend une tournure politique. Le Monde. 21 November 2009. 9 January 2016. 17 December 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20151217065243/http://www.lemonde.fr/societe/article/2009/11/21/pierre-berge-accuse-le-telethon-de-parasiter-la-generosite-d-une-maniere-populiste_1270443_3224.html. live.
  31. Web site: L'Express . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120822085020/http://lexpansion.lexpress.fr:80/economie/pourquoi-le-telethon-se-retrouve-au-coeur-de-la-polemique_208445.html . 22 August 2012 .
  32. Web site: L'AFM porte plainte contre Bergé. Europe 1. 9 January 2016. 9 September 2017. https://web.archive.org/web/20170909052325/http://www.europe1.fr/france/l-afm-porte-plainte-contre-berge-137318. live.
  33. Web site: Pierre Bergé condamné à 1 500 euros d'amende pour des propos sur le Téléthon. Le Parisien. 28 June 2013. 9 January 2016. 3 March 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160303213257/http://www.leparisien.fr/faits-divers/pierre-berge-condamne-a-1-500-euros-d-amende-pour-des-propos-sur-le-telethon-28-06-2013-2936747.php. live.
  34. Web site: Bombe sur les Champs-Elysées : le "retweet" de Pierre Bergé dérange. Direct Matin. 9 January 2016. 25 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160125171424/http://www.directmatin.fr/france/2013-03-16/bombe-sur-les-champs-elysees-le-retweet-de-pierre-berge-derange-426011. live.
  35. Web site: Le Petit Journal . Canal+ . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20130828032948/http://www.canalplus.fr:80/c-divertissement/pid3351-c-le-petit-journal.html?vid=890478 . 28 August 2013 .
  36. Web site: "Louer Son Ventre Pour Faire un Enfant": Pierre Bergé Crée Le Scandale!. Marie Claire. 9 January 2016. 26 January 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160126014951/http://www.marieclaire.fr/,pierre-berge-pma-gpa-louer-son-ventre,20123,680919.asp. live.
  37. Web site: Pierre Bergé favorable à la suppression de toutes les fêtes chrétiennes. RTL. 9 January 2016. 30 September 2013. https://web.archive.org/web/20130930054534/http://www.rtl.fr/actualites/info/article/pierre-berge-favorable-a-la-suppression-de-toutes-les-fetes-chretiennes-7764830626. dead.
  38. News: Pierre Berge Accuses designers of 'enslaving women' with Islamic styles . Ikon London Magazine . 3 March 2016 . 3 March 2018 . 28 September 2019 . https://web.archive.org/web/20190928002538/http://www.ikonlondonmagazine.com/pierre-berge-accuses-designers-of-enslaving-women-with-islamic-styles/ . live .
  39. Web site: Guilbault . Laure . 29 December 2014 . Q&A With Victoire Doutreleau at 80 . WWD . 12 March 2022 . 12 March 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20220312105838/https://wwd.com/eye/people/victoire-doutreleau-at-80-8085481/ . live .
  40. Web site: Pierre Bergé Ties the Knot With Madison Cox. WWD. 4 May 2017. 30 August 2019. 16 May 2021. https://web.archive.org/web/20210516080535/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/pierre-berge-marriage-madison-cox-10881144/. live.
  41. Web site: Pierre Bergé Dies at 86 . wwd.com . 8 September 2017 . 31 May 2020 . 19 September 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20200919224651/https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/gallery/pierre-berge-dies-10975773/pierre-berg%C2%8E/ . live .

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