In the heart of Marrakech, where vibrant colours, heritage and artistic daring converge, a new exhibition pulls back the curtain on one of fashion’s most private passions: Yves Saint Laurent’s lifelong love of dogs. Running from September 25, 2025 to September 29, 2026, the show opens a personal window into the designer’s life and creative spirit through the loyal canine companions who inspired him.
The Designer as Dog Lover
Yves Saint Laurent — known for revolutionising 20th-century fashion — once admitted, “I am, as they say, a dog person.” That simple confession becomes the beating heart of this exhibition, which situates his dogs not as mere sidekicks but as vital figures woven into his emotional and artistic landscape.
Curated by Martin Bethenod and hosted at the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech (an institution dedicated to Saint Laurent’s life and work), Yves Saint Laurent and His Dogs reveals how these four-legged companions were ever present — from the designer’s private retreats to his frenetic studios.
Hazel, Moujik — Not Just Pets, But Personas
Central to the exhibition are two distinct lineages of dogs that defined different chapters of Saint Laurent’s life:
- Hazel: A glamorous Chihuahua who reflected Saint Laurent’s flair and penchant for personality. Tiny but fierce, Hazel embodied both elegance and attitude.
- The Moujiks: A succession of French bulldogs — all named Moujik — who were fixtures at the couturier’s side. Calm yet steadfast, these dogs accompanied him through creative peaks and personal recollections alike.
Far from being background characters, these dogs appear throughout archival documents, candid photographs and private letters — present at the drawing table, in Saint Laurent’s Marrakech home and even during show preparations.
A Journey Through Intimate Spaces
The exhibition’s layout feels less like a typical museum and more like an invitation into Saint Laurent’s inner world. Visitors encounter:
- Photographs capturing daily life with Hazel and the Moujiks, revealing moments of play, calm and creative reflection.
- Sketches and letters that chart both professional milestones and personal solace.
- Ephemera and first-hand accounts that underscore how dogs offered comfort from anxiety, companionship in solitude and even inspiration while shaping iconic designs.
This immersive blend of archive and anecdote reveals a dimension of the designer rarely seen in fashion retrospectives: the emotional bedrock provided by loyal pets.
Marrakech: Creative Oasis and Canine Stories
Marrakech was far more than a backdrop for Saint Laurent’s Moroccan escapades — it was a place of refuge, renewal and colour. He spent much of his time here, often accompanied by his dogs, soaking in the hues and rhythms that would ripple through his work.
Set just steps from the iconic Jardin Majorelle — where Saint Laurent and his partner Pierre Bergé once lived and found inspiration — the museum invites visitors to connect the dots between landscape, lifestyle and the designer’s inner life.
More Than Fashion, A Story of Connection
This show is not a retrospective of couture or runway brilliance — those elements are well documented elsewhere. Instead, Yves Saint Laurent and His Dogs stands out for its humanity: it locates brilliance in the everyday, finding reverence in loyalty, comfort in companionship and creative spark in quiet moments shared beside a devoted pet.
Whether you are a fashion aficionado, an art lover or simply someone who believes dogs are more than pets, this exhibition offers a deeply personal perspective on the man behind the legend.
Why This Exhibition Matters
By highlighting the place of dogs — from Hazel’s glamour to Moujik’s unwavering presence — the Musée Yves Saint Laurent Marrakech reframes an iconic life through its tender, often overlooked relationships. The result is an emotional and visual experience that resonates far beyond fashion circles.
For anyone curious about the forces that shape creativity — especially those as intimate as love and loyalty — this unique celebration of Saint Laurent’s four-legged muses is not to be missed.
