Designer Richard Nicoll has passed away

The fashion world mourns the loss of a brilliant designer

London-born and Perth-raised designer Richard Nicoll has died suddenly in Sydney, aged 38. Nicoll is suspected to have died from a sudden heart attack.

An ambulance was called to his apartment in King’s Cross in the early hours of Friday morning and he was taken to St Vincent’s Hospital, reports the Australian Daily Telegraph.

Nicoll graduated with a MA in womenswear from prestigious fashion college Central Saint Martins in 2002, and his graduation collection was famously bought by Dolce & Gabbana. He went on to design for the likes of Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs and held a creative director title a Paris-based tailoring house Cerruti 1881, as well as high street chains Jack Wills, Sweaty Betty and Topshop, for which he designed a bridal range in 2012.

He cut his teeth on the Fashion East runway at London Fashion Week, eventually showing his eponymous line in a stand alone show at London Fashion Week in February 2006.

Nicoll was renowned for the masculine and sporty but sculptural aesthetic of his collections, which won over his many adoring clients. He was also widely regarded for his inventive and artistic collaborations, most notably with artist Linder Sterling.

A true innovator, he pushed the boundaries of fabrication, collaborating with London-based fashion and technology company Studio XO on an innovative LED dress for his September 2014 show.

The esteemed fashion designer put his eponymous line on pause in 2014 and moved on to a number of new projects. At the time of his death he was said to be working with Australian musician Jess Kent and was due to commence his role as creative director at Adidas in January 2017.

'He was such an inspiring designer,' Jayne Pickering, Marie Claire's Fashion Director said this morning. 'He designed clothes that women really wanted, but mainly he was a lovely, kind man.'

A highly respected and much-loved designer, Richard Nicoll will be greatly missed.