Photo: REX USA/David Fisher/Rex.Louise Wilson, the famed director of Central Saint Martins' MA fashion program, died in her sleep Friday night while visiting her sister in Scotland. Wilson, who was credited with nurturing the careers of CSM grads like Christopher Kane and the late Alexander McQueen, was 52 years old.
"Her commitment to her students and passion for creative excellence are legendary," Jeremy Till, the head of Central Saint Martins, has said in a statement. "Her deep understanding of fashion and her drive for funding for bursaries, facilities, and opportunities are part of what made her such an extraordinary educator. Louise's legacy will live on at CSM through her former students and current teaching colleagues who were so close to her. Central Saint Martins is grateful to have been able to enjoy the fruits of Louise's great talent for educating for the last twenty years and will support her staff and students as they go forward from here."
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Though she was notorious for having a brusque manner, Wilson was, in Till's words, "an inspirational person both within the college and the wider world of fashion."
During her tenure as a professor at London's most prestigious fashion college, she tutored designers including Jonathan Saunders, Roksanda Ilincic, and Phoebe Philo. In 2008, she was awarded an OBE for her work in the fashion industry.
Wilson's death will leave a major hole in the London fashion community. She is survived by her partner, Timmi, and son Tim. (Telegraph)