Fashion tycoon Pierre Bergé has died aged 86.
Alongside his late partner fashion designer Yves St Laurent, Bergé created the St Laurent fashion house, he was the brains by the successful business operation, while St Laurent was the creative force.
His death was announced by his charity foundation, who said that he passed away in his sleep at his country home in Saint-Remy-de-Provence in Southern France.
Bergé was a passionate bibliophile and art collector, he was a campaigner for gay rights and donated a large part of his fortune to HIV/AIDS research. At one time he was the owner of the famous French LGBT magazine Tetu.
Born on the island of Oléron in 1930, Bergé met St Laurent in Paris in 1958 and the two began a romantic relationship. In 1961 they created the fashion label Yves St Laurent. The couple split in 1976 but remained life long friends and business partners.
Bergé and Saint Laurent were joined in a civil union a few days before the designer died of a brain tumour in 2008 aged 71.
OIP Staff
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