The Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech presents Yves Saint Laurent: The Hamish Bowles Collection, an unprecedented exhibition running from January 30th, 2025, to January 4th, 2026. This showcase offers a rare collector’s perspective on the legendary couturier, featuring 53 garments from the private collection of Hamish Bowles, a renowned fashion historian and editor.
Unlike previous exhibitions sourced from institutional archives, this selection represents the lived history of Saint Laurent’s designs. Madison Cox, president of the Pierre Bergé-Yves Saint Laurent Foundation, describes Bowles’ collection as a deeply personal interpretation of the designer’s legacy. Each piece, once worn by influential figures such as Nan Kempner and Betty Catroux, carries its own story, adding layers of authenticity and glamour.
Curated with complete creative freedom, Bowles organizes the exhibition into three sections: Saint Laurent’s early years at Dior, his groundbreaking work under his own label, and the evolution of Saint Laurent Rive Gauche, which revolutionized ready-to-wear. The display is brought to life through a baroque-inspired scenography by Anglo-Irish opera director Patrick Kinmonth, evoking the theatrical elegance of Saint Laurent’s world.
Among the highlights is a 1969 patchwork ensemble, a testament to the designer’s deep connection with Marrakech, a city that shaped his artistic vision. Another standout is the midnight-blue jumpsuit from Rive Gauche, famously worn by Betty Catroux, embodying the effortless chic that defined Saint Laurent’s aesthetic.
Visitors will also encounter a cocktail dress from the designer’s 1957 Autumn-Winter collection at Dior, revealing his early mastery of form and construction. Alongside these garments, sketches, workshop notes, and archival illustrations provide further insight into Saint Laurent’s creative process.
The exhibition is accompanied by a behind-the-scenes documentary by filmmaker David Boatman and a bilingual catalogue, offering an in-depth look at the collection and its significance. More than a retrospective, this exhibition is a tribute to the passion of a collector and the enduring influence of one of fashion’s greatest visionaries.
Photography by LUC CASTEL
