Some of the greatest designers in the world had on their side partners who were more than friends and right arms! Many went beyond the professional sphere and shared a personal life together.
Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé:
The most known partnership in the fashion world took place between the French Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Bergé. Pierre was much more than an administrator of the YSL brand. He helped the designer build an empire and was by Yves’s side in the difficult moments of the designer’s life (he had problems with drugs, alcohol and depression).
Tom Ford and Domenico De Sole:
When Gucci faced a difficult economic time in the ’90es, it was De Sole that prevented the dismissal of Gucci designer American designer Tom Ford. Ford and De Sole’s partnership was important for the growth of the Gucci Group during the negotiations to purchase the brands Yves Saint Lauren, Stella McCartney, Balenciaga and Alexander McQueen. In the early 2000s they left Gucci and together started the Tom Ford brand.
Valentino and Giancarlo Giammetti:
On July 31, 1960 architect Giammetti and designer Valentino met each other and began to share a life together. Personally and professionally. The partnership could not have been more successful: Valentino has the freedom to create his collections while Giammetti masterfully handles business and image of his designer and partner.
Marc Jacobs and Robert Duffy:
The year 1984 left a mark on Robert Duffy’s life and skin: a tattoo done by the fashion entrepreneur to honor the date his partnership with designer Marc Jacobs began. Jacobs was still studying at Parsons fashion school in NY, yet Duffy already saw in him a promising future! The duo started the Marc Jacobs brand and a partnership. They lived difficult moments because of the designer’s heroin addiction and, between internations, Duffy played an important role in Jacobs’ recovery. Today one of the biggest names in the fashion world would be nothing without his trusted partner Robert Duffy.
