Milan, June 18 - 62 year-old Designer Gianfranco Ferre' dies due to complications of a serious brain hemorrhage suffered on Friday.He is known in the fashion industry as the architect of fashion, Ferre'became famous as the chief designer at the French maison
Christian Dior from 1989 to 1996, when he left to focus his talents on his own line.

Ferre' will be deeply missed by his fellow colleagues. Giorgio Armani said he was "a civilized man. I will remember him for his sense of dignity, calm and responsibility".Valentino observed that Ferre' was "one of the greatest talents in Italian fashion and one of the sweetest and reserved people in the world of fashion".

Donatella Versace was shocked by Ferre's death and said "I am very sad. Ten years ago I lost a brother (Gianni Versace) and today I lose a friend. He was a true gentleman who created forms, a fashion which was both grandiose and faultless at the same time". Born in Legnano, outside Milan, Ferre' began his career in 70s designing belts, jewelry and other fashion accessories.

He earned his title of 'architect of fashion' because of the degree in architecture he earned at Milan's Polytechnic
Institute and the structured style of his creations. Ferre' began designing clothing at the Sangiorgio rainwear company in Genoa. It was during that time that he strengthened his bonds with two of the most important people in his life: Rita Airaghi, a cousin who quit teaching to become his alter ego; and Franco Mattioli, a clothing manufacturer from Bologna who became his partner for 25 years, from 1975 to 1999.

Together with Mattioli, Ferre' created his own fashion house in 1978 and began by designing ready-to-wear lines for women which earned him international recognition. In 1989 he was called in to be the chief designer at Dior, taking the place of Marc Bohan, and became the maison's first non-French designer. Any uncertainties towards the choice of Ferre' to design for Dior were erased when he presented his first collections with their simple yet pretentious arrangements.

After eight years at Dior, Ferre' decided to dedicate his full attention to his own fashion house, which was now producing men's fashion as well as a number of accessory products, including eyewear in association with Marzotto. The Ferre' company later underwent some financial problems.