British Fashion Designer Found Dead In London Home

PHOTO: ALEXANDER MCQUEEN WITH HIS MOTHER, JOYCE.

San Francisco Feb 11, (THEWILL) – British fashion designer Lee Alexander McQueen CBE, 40, was found dead at his London Mayfair home on Thursday in what the British media have said may be a suicide. The Dailymail of London reported that he was found hanged in his two million pounds Mayfair apartment.

McQueen’s communications director, Samantha Garrett told Reuters "He was found dead this mourning."

An official statement on McQueen’s website on Thursday said: “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.”

Fondly called the "hooligan" of British fashion because of his unconventional designs and shock tactics, he was expected to unveil his latest collection at the Paris Fashion Week in March.

British police have so far said his death is not suspicious. McQueen’s mother died earlier this month according to his twitt on twitter on February 3^rd.

MCQueen’s friend and an influential British fashion personality, Isabella Blow who helped him launch his career killed herself in 2007 at the age of 48.

"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," the statement added.

The late designer was a former British Designer of the Year winner and started his apprenticeship at the famours traditional Savile Row tailors Anderson and Sheppard before he joined Gieves and Hawkes. He went on to acquire a Masters degree in fashion from the prestigious Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London.

In 1996, he was named head designer at Givenchy but later left to establish his own label. Reactions have poured in from the celebrities. Karl Lagerfeld told a French radio that McQueen had always flirted with death in his designs "In these types of profession (modeling, acting, fashion design) if you haven’t got a strong back and are not hard-headed you expose yourself to anguish."

"He also had a nervous depression which reached its culminating point with the death of his mother last week," the fashion guru said.

Super models Tyra Banks, Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell have all expressed their shock at the news of his death. Vogue Editor Alexandra Shulman hailed the late designer on Vogue’s website for his “ Brilliant imagination”.

His devotees like US first lady Michelle Obama, Victoria Beckam, Kim Kardashian, Lady Gaga and Sarah Jessica Parker have all reacted to his death. Tommy Hilfiger called him a "young genius."

There was no suicide note when his body was found.