PARIS.- Two museums dedicated to the life and work of fashion legend Yves Saint Laurent will open in Paris and Morocco later this year, his foundation said Tuesday.

The larger museum in Marrakesh -- where the late designer often retreated to work in the home he shared with his partner Pierre Berge -- hopes to attract up to 700,000 visitors a year.

"Both museums are aimed at the general public as well as fashion lovers. Yves Saint Laurent was a major artist of the 20th century," the couple's foundation said in a statement.

It holds a collection of more than 5,000 outfits and 15,000 accessories the Algerian-born designer created during his 40-year career.

Berge opened Morocco's first museum of Moroccan Berber art in 2011 -- three years after the death of his partner -- to house the collection they built together.

The new purpose-built Marrakesh museum is near the historic riad mansion the couple shared.

Both museums will open in October, with the Paris site housed inside the foundation's headquarters.


© Agence France-Presse