Obituary news and archive

Joan Burstein, pioneering founder of Browns, dies aged 100

British retail trailblazer Joan Burstein, co-founder of iconic London boutique Browns, who championed emerging talent throughout her career, has died at the age of 100, according to her family. Burstein, who was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 2006 Queen's Birthday Honours list for her services to the...

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Who was the founder of River Island, Bernard Lewis?

Bernard Lewis passed away at the weekend at the age of 100. According to reports, the influential British businessman and founder of retail chain River Island was surrounded by his family in his final hours. Lewis’ interest in retail was established in his youth, when his family owned a fruit and veg stall that he eventually transitioned into a...

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In memoriam: Remembering the fashion industry figures we lost in 2025

Every year, the fashion world welcomes new talent and established names. Unfortunately, we must also say goodbye to individuals who have had a lasting impact on the industry. FashionUnited pays tribute to the fashion professionals who passed away globally in 2025. January: designer Rosita Missoni, photographer Oliviero Toscani Rosita Missoni,...

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British luxury pyjama designer Derek Rose dies aged 93

Derek Rose, the British luxury pyjama designer who has dressed the British Royal family, popstar Harry Styles, actors Eddie Redmayne and Leonardo DiCaprio, as well as John Lennon and Yoko Ono, who wore matching his-and-hers pyjamas, has died at the age of 93. In a statement, the family-owned company said that Derek Peter Rose, founder and...

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Australian designer Aurelio Costarella passes away age 60

Australian designer Aurelio Costarella has passed away at age 60 after a fight with Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, a rare, untreatable, and fast-progressing brain disorder that also took the life of his sister, Gracie. One of the most successful designers in Western Australia, Costarella was born in Perth to Sicilian parents. His Italian roots are...

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Bruce Nordstrom, scion of retail dynasty, dies at 90

Bruce Nordstrom, a third-generation member of the storied Nordstrom department store family, has passed away at the age of 90. “It is with deep sadness we announce our dad passed away comfortably at home on May 18, with his wife Jeannie by his side,” said Pete and Erik Nordstrom in a joint statement. “Our dad will be remembered not only for his...

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Roberto Cavalli, the Italian fashion designer, has died at 83

Roberto Cavalli, the Italian designer best known for his bold prints, sensual designs, and pioneering spirit, passed away at the age of 83. Born on November 15, 1940, in Florence, Italy, Cavalli revolutionised the fashion industry with his distinctive style, blending exotic patterns and luxurious fabrics to create iconic pieces that adorned...

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Fashion journalist Hilary Alexander dies aged 77

Legendary fashion journalist Hilary Alexander, who was the honorary president of Graduate Fashion Foundation, which organises Graduate Fashion Week, died peacefully on February 5, her 77th birthday, in London. In a statement from the foundation, they said that Alexander, who was a trustee on the charity board, was the “driving strength” behind...

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Remembering Abloh: the man who brought the street to the runway

Virgil Abloh reimagined the profile of a fashion designer, merging streetwear, music and high fashion, and shattering glass ceilings as the first black creative director at Louis Vuitton. Abloh died on Sunday at the age of 41, with few aware that he had been battling a rare form of cancer, cardiac angiosarcoma, since 2019. His partnership with...

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Terry de Havilland dies aged 81

Luxury footwear designer Terry de Havilland, famously known as the “rock’n’roll cobbler”, has passed away aged 81. His eponymous brand confirmed the sad news on its Instagram page, stating: “It is with great sadness that we have to announce that Terry de Havilland has died aged 81. Known as the ‘rock’n roll cobbler’ he made a significant...

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Sonia Rykiel passes away aged 86

French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel has passed away at the age of 86. Founder of the eponymous Parisian fashion label Sonia Rykiel and its ready-to-wear diffusion line Sonia by Sonia Rykiel the celebrated designer died on Thursday after a long battle with Parkinson, her daughter revealed to AFP. "My mother died at 5:00 this morning at her home...

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North Face & Esprit co-founder Douglas Tompkins passes away in Chile

London - The co-founder of the North Face and Esprit, Douglas Rainsford Tompkins, who invested a large part of his fortune into conservation, passed away following a kayaking accident in Patagonia, Chile. Tompkins, who was 72, was taken to a hospital in Coyhaique with severe hypothermia after strong winds capsized his kayak during a journey...