The fashion world was stunned today when news broke that Lee McQueen–founder of the vanguard label Alexander McQueen–was found dead in his London home. Early reports suggest that he hung himself. The timing of the UK designer’s death is particularly shocking, as he was set to unveil his new collection at Paris fashion week in just over a month. The sudden death also sets a dark cloud over already underway New York Fashion Week, and London Fashion Week which begins in mere days.

Lee McQueen was one of the most revered figures in the world of fashion, whose creations influenced a whole generation of designers. British Vogue’s editrix Alexandra Shulman had this to say of McQueen:

His brilliant imagination knew no bounds as he conjured up collection after collection of extraordinary designs. At one level he was a master of the fantastic, creating astounding fashion shows that mixed design, technology and performance and on another he was a modern-day genius whose gothic aesthetic was adopted by women the world over. His death is the hugest loss to anyone who knew him and for very many who didn’t.

Lee McQueen was 40 years old.

-Daniel Barna