According to the Daily Mail, Alexander McQueen was found dead in his London home today, the result of an apparent suicide.
According to BBC News, paramedics called to his home in Mayfair pronounced him dead at the scene. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious. According to the Daily Mail the celebrated designer had been depressed since the death of his beloved mother Joyce on February 2nd.
A statement released by Alexander McQueen’s London office, referring to the designer by his given first name, Lee – read:
“On behalf of Lee McQueen’s family, Alexander McQueen today announces the tragic news that Lee McQueen, the founder and designer of the Alexander McQueen brand has been found dead at his home. At this stage it is inappropriate to comment on this tragic news beyond saying that we are devastated and are sharing a sense of shock and grief with Lee’s family. Lee’s family has asked for privacy in order to come to terms with this terrible news and we hope the media will respect this.”
A former British Designer of the Year winner, London-born Mr McQueen started his career as an apprentice in Savile Row, where he learned how to make jackets at Gieves and Hawkes. Mr McQueen won the distinction of being named British designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003 and was also awarded the CBE. In 1996, the man nicknamed “the hooligan of English fashion”, with his close-cropped hair and Doc Martens, was named head designer at the Paris couture house of Givenchy.
In December 2000 saw a new partnership for McQueen with Gucci Group acquiring 51% of the company, and McQueen serving as Creative Director. Plans for expansion included the opening of stores in London, Milan, and New York, and the launch of his perfumes Kingdom, and more recently My Queen. In 2005, McQueen collaborated with Puma to create a special line of trainers for the shoe brand.
His fashion shows were the highlight of Paris Fashion Week, and most recent Spring 2010 Collection Plato’s Atlantis, was live-streamed on Nick Knight’s SHOWstudio.com, putting him once again at the cutting edge of change.
One of Alexander McQueen’s contemporary lines, McQ, was scheduled to be shown today New York Fashion Week at Milk Studios. His death comes just days before the start of London Fashion Week and weeks before he was due to unveil his new collection at Paris Fashion Week on March 9.
This is truly a tragic loss. It’s impossible for us to imagine the world of fashion without him.
