Fashion designer and occasionwear brand founder Gill Harvey has died following a secret year-long battle with cancer. The team behind her eponymous brand shared the sad news on Gill Harvey Collection’s Instagram page yesterday.
It read: “We are all heart broken and a very special light has truly gone out. Gill was our friend, our inspiration… she was always so kind to everyone and a truly gifted fashion designer and icon. Her team here will continue on her brilliant legacy.”
A fashion graduate of the Royal College of Art in London, Gill Harvey first gained international recognition with her Medici knitwear collection. Successful eveningwear, occasionwear and red-carpet designs followed and in 2012, Eliza Jane Howell was born followed by The Gill Harvey Collection in 2013.
The Eliza Jane Howell brand was named after Gill’s grandmother, who was also a fashion designer. Her inspiration came from Hollywood’s golden era as well as her mother’s glamorous wardrobe.
In 2016, Gill Harvey for Eliza Jane Howell was voted Best Bridal Designer by the first ever UK Wedding Awards and won Best British Bridal Designer in the British Wedding Awards. In 2017, Eliza Jane Howell was voted Best Bridal Designer for the second year.