Fashion genius of boundless imagination

As news of the British designer's apparent suicide broke, tributes began to flood in from across the world, with celebrities, politicians and fashion critics, as well as style-conscious fans, united in their reverence for McQueen and his work.

A recipient of numerous awards, he designed clothes for some of the world's top models and had boutiques in cities such as Paris, New York, Milan, Moscow and Beijing. It was a long way from his origins, which were distinctly more humble.

The son of a London cab driver, he left school aged 16. While his interest in fashion was evident from an early age, making dresses for his sisters, he got his first break with Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard when they offered him an apprenticeship. Soon his clients included the former Russian leader Mikhail Gorbachev and the Prince of Wales.

His skills were advanced by his work with fashion houses across the world and when he returned to London to study at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design his talent and flair was such his entire graduate collection was famously bought by influential stylist Isabella Blow, whom many credit for launching his career.

They remained close and McQueen was said to be devastated when she killed herself in May 2007.

In 1996, he was dubbed the "hooligan of English fashion" and "enfant terrible" by the French press when named head designer at Givenchy in Paris. but McQueen went on to silence his critics with his creations.

Alexandra Shulman, editor of British Vogue, said: "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."

Mary Benson, 19, from Leeds, who is studying fashion design in London, was an intern at McQueen's studio last summer.

"I'm so shocked," she said. "His concepts were so original. He was just the best."

Rita Britton, owner of designer store Pollyanna in Barnsley, met McQueen at the launch of his first collection and remembers his eagerness to please.

"He was a normal guy with a reputation for being considerate and kind," she said. "It's incredibly sad that such a young man with such a wealth of talent has decided to end his own life. He was an incredibly talented designer with 30 years future in front of him, at least."

Victoria Beckham spoke of her sadness, saying: "McQueen was a master of fashion, creative genius and an inspiration. Today the fashion industry has lost a true great. An icon of all time. He made all he touched beautiful and will be desperately missed."

Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw praised McQueen's "outstanding contribution to British fashion" while designer Katherine Hamnett called him a "genius" and described his death as "a terrible, tragic waste".

John Warburton, director of Yorkshire Fashion Week, simply referred to McQueen as "inspirational".