THE life of Lee Alexander McQueen was a life that was both inspirational and tragic; inspirational in that he truly made his own way, his only tools being strong self-belief and an astonishing raw talent. The tragedy lies in the fact that it all ended so soon.

McQueen was born in Lewisham, London, in 1969 to Ronald, a Scottish taxi driver, and Joyce, a social science teacher. He grew up among five other children in a council flat in Stratford, and began making dresses for his three sisters from a very young age. No sooner had he left school did he go on to work for several of fashions' big names. This included an apprenticeship with Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard before joining bespoke gentleman's tailors Gieves and Hawkes. The skills that he learned in those few years helped to gain him a reputation in creating an expertly tailored look. His was a rare and natural skill.

In 1994, McQueen applied to be a tutor at the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design, where fashion greats John Galliano and Stella McCartney also studied, but was persuaded instead to enrol as a pupil. Upon graduating, his entire degree collection was purchased by fashion stylist and icon Isabella Blow, who could only afford to pay for the collection in instalments; one item a month. When asked by Isabella why he was charging so much for a student's collection, McQueen reportedly replied 'Because I made it'. So began a deep and sometimes rocky relationship that would last until Blow's suicide in 2007.

McQueen's clothes have always caused controversy and received a great deal of attention, and one look at the unique and beautifully crafted designs is enough to show you why. His early creations, such as the low-slung trousers, known as 'bumsters', caused a great deal of shock and debate. He also lead the way in extravagance and technology on the catwalk. His shows were a sublime mix of staggeringly theatrical garments and spectacle, ranging from using a life-sized hologram of supermodel Kate Moss to car-robots spraying paint onto a model's dress. The controversy doesn't stop there. McQueen became one of the first designers to use Indian models in London, and his use of plus sized models and a double-amputee on the runway gained him a lot of attention and respect. His use of the skull motif, which made its way on to accessories such as belts, scarves and rings, made many of his designs instantly recognisable and started a designer trend of imprinting motifs onto items of clothing and accessories.

McQueen was always pushing boundaries. He thought big, bold and very, very brave, and always put his all into everything that he created, no matter how weird and wonderful. From his towering Armadillo shoes favoured by Lady Gaga, to the more demure dresses worn by the likes of actress Anne Hathaway, McQueen has always proved himself to be a master of many styles. Following his mother's death from cancer in 2010, McQueen tragically decided that at forty years old, life was no longer for him. He was found hanging in his London home on February 11, leaving only a note saying 'Look after my dogs, sorry, I love you, Lee.' Despite his death, the McQueen label lives on, with creative director Sarah Burton leading. And long live McQueen.