It breaks my heart to share with you that the great , Alexander McQueen has taken his life. He was my inspiration, the most brilliant designer of our time, I will miss him dearly.
The fashion designer Alexander McQueen has died, his company has said.
His office confirmed to the BBC that Mr McQueen, 40, was found dead at his London home this morning.
Paramedics called to his home pronounced him dead at the scene. Police said his death was not being treated as suspicious.
A statement said his family were “devastated” at the “tragic news”, and added that they shared “a sense of shock and grief”.
A former British Designer of the Year winner, Mr McQueen started his career as an apprentice in Savile Row, where he learned how to make jackets at Gieves and Hawkes.
‘Shock and grief’
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.
A statement released by his 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.”