Yves Saint Laurent had become the biggest star of French fashion in the sixties, when he opened his own haute couture house after a three year stint at Christian Dior. He and his partner Pierre Bergé were vacationing in Morocco when they both fell in love with the country's culture and people. They immediately purchased a house in Marrakesh, where Saint Laurent said he "discovered the magic of color." Over the years, he continued spending time in Marrakech and drawing inspiration from Moroccan culture for his collections. After his death in 2008, his ashes were spread at Jardin Marjorelle, a park that Saint Laurent restored and opened to the public as a gift to Morocco.