Alexander McQueen, the genius of London fashion design, has died in his home in London. He was 40 years old, and the death is being treated as suicide.

McQueen's mother recently passed away - information he shared with fans via Twitter.

On February 7 he wrote: “sunday evening been a ****ing awful week but my friends have been great but now i have to some how pull myself together.” On February 3: “I'm letting my followers know my mother passed away yesterday RIPmum xxxxxxxxx xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx.”

He then followed with: “but life must go on.”

Many fans tweeted back their support with condolence messages.

McQueen's most recent collections were some of his most extraordinary. In Milan, his menswear collection featured digital bone prints and balaclavas, in Paris, his couture collection was an underwater theme starring remarkable claw-shaped shoes. These were just two of the collections that rewrote the future of fashion.

McQueen was named British designer of the year four times between 1996 and 2003, was awarded the CBE and became International Designer of the Year at the Council of Fashion Designers.

Born Lee Alexander Mcqueen, he was famous for wild and controversial collections including one entitled Highland Rape. He began producing full collections in 1994 he produced a collection each season and in 1996 replaced John Galliano at Givenchy and was voted British Designer of the Year for the first time.

He was a coveted talent and in 2000, he joined Gucci to open new stores in London, Milan and New York.

The Evening Standard in London quoted Sue Whiteley, former CEO of his business, as saying: “This is devastating news. He was an unforgettable part of my life. He was a talent who was beyond others. People who worked with him would give 100 per cent and more because he was totally inspiring.

“This is an unimaginable loss for the fashion world. He was able to bring creativity to whatever he turned his hand to, from perfume bottles to every piece of clothing. It is a dark, dark day. He was a British icon in fashion whose loss is unimaginable.”

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See more McQueen collections and video on TheVine.