Fashion designer Richard Nicoll has died at the age of 39 in Sydney, Australia.

The London-born designer’s death is not being treated as suspicious following the discovery of his body on Friday morning, amid reports of a suspected heart attack.

British Vogue’s deputy editor Emily Sheffield, the sister of Samantha Cameron, led the tributes to the designer.

Richard Nicoll
Richard Nicoll has died age 39 in Sydney (Jacques Brinon/AP/PA Images)

She wrote on Twitter: “Shocked and saddened by news of Richard Nicoll’s death; literally one of the nicest men in fashion. A tragic cutting short of a life.”

Former Spice Girls star Emma Bunton said: “Such sad news about Richard Nicoll, I met him way back when he was at Central Saint Martins, a beautiful soul. Thinking of his loved ones.”

Singer Lily Allen said she is “really sad” and that she is “privileged to have known him and to have worn many of his beautiful creations”.

Vogue Australia’s editor-in-chief Edwina McCann said: “Richard was an extraordinarily talented designer and a wonderful, warm, generous human being.

“Our thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this very difficult time, and at Vogue we will celebrate and remember his unique talents, always.”

Local police were called to a unit in Sydney at around 11am after his body was found and an investigation into his death is under way.

Richard Nicoll
Richard Nicoll won several awards and worked for the likes of Topshop and Louis Vuitton during his career (Ian West/PA Archive/PA Images)

A New South Wales Police Force spokesman said: “NSW Police are preparing a report for the information of the Coroner after a man was found deceased in a unit in Darlinghurst, Sydney this morning.”

Nicoll was born in London and raised in Perth, Australia, before returning to the British capital to gain an MA in Womenswear at Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design.

His 2002 graduate collection was purchased by leading fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana, catapulting him into the spotlight.

Cerruti
Designs by Richard Nicoll for Cerruti as part of his Fall-Winter 2010-2011 ready-to-wear fashion collection (Jacques Brinon/AP/PA Images)

He launched his eponymous fashion label in 2005 and was a regular fixture at London Fashion Week shows for a decade.

He has been awarded the British Fashion Council’s Fashion Forward Award and he has also been named the Best Young Designer at the Elle Style Awards.

During his career, Nicoll acted as creative director of luxury Parisian label Cerruti and he previously worked for Marc Jacobs at Louis Vuitton.

Richard Nicoll
Models wear outfits from the Autumn / Winter 2007 collection by Richard Nicoll during London Fashion Week in the Topshop Show Space, Covent Garden (Clara Molden/PA Archive/PA Images)

He produced collections for British clothing brand Jack Wills, high-street giant Topshop and fashion label Fred Perry.

Nicoll’s designs, known for being modern and masculine in style, have been worn by celebrities including Kylie Minogue, Keira Knightley, Sienna Miller and Julianne Moore.