Locals upset over Pierre Cardin`s move into French town

Spicezee Bureau

Lacoste: While buying the ruins of a castle in a stunning village in Provence and organizing a summer festival there, French fashion icon Pierre Cardin must not have thought that his decision won’t go well with the locals. The 87-year-old designer was supposedly doing a favour for the locals when he bought 42 properties in Lacoste, having a population of about 450 residents. But his decision has reportedly caused a backlash in the village, with locals criticising him for pricing them out of the market. Bruno Pitot, 25, who works for Mr Cardin`s Cafe de Sade said to a news daily that much of the bad feeling was down to jealousy. "He`s got a lot of money and he started buying all these houses. We`re afraid he might close the village," he said. But still he says that he can’t afford to live in Lacoste. Complaining about the decision, Colette Truphemus, who has lived in the village for more than 40 years said, "Lacoste is not Lacoste anymore. The houses are too expensive, and young people can`t afford to stay,” she said. She also mentioned that her three sons now live outside town. However, Mr Cardin is still adamant that he has saved Lacoste. In a latest interview to a news daily, Mr Cardin justified his decision by saying, “I don’t understand this hatred of newcomers. The people hadn’t done anything for their village, no sewers, no lights at night, nothing. The village hadn’t changed since the ‘30s.” Standing by his actions, Mr Cardin insisted that he would not pull out and would ensure his festival and projects continued after his death. "I had hard moments, when I thought, `I`m going to give up, I don`t need to do this`. I did this for Lacoste, not for me," he said. Nine years back, Mr Cardin had bought the 11th century castle once the property of the Marquis de Sade, but his attempts to buy every other property has raised a local backlash.