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Christian Audigier: Ed Hardy Designer Dies of Blood Disease

Written by

Kimberly Ripley

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Christian Audigier, the French designer known for creating the Ed Hardy brand of clothing, has died of a rare blood disease at the age of 57.

Michele Elyzabeth is Audigier’s longtime publicist. She confirmed his passing in a statement.

“I just heard the news and I am truly devastated. Christian was an incredibly brilliant man. He will be missed,” she said.

Diagnosed with MDS (Myelodysplastic Syndrome) back in January, Christian Audigier was admitted to an L.A. hospital recently in a comatose state. He reportedly woke up from the coma prior to passing away. MDS is the same disease Good Morning America co-host Robin Roberts suffered from. She received a bone marrow transplant from her sister in her efforts to beat the disease.

Christian Audigier created the Ed Hardy label in the early 2000s. Made even more popular by celebrities like Kim Kardashian, Ashton Kutcher, Nicole Richie, and Madonna, the popular trucker hats, t-shirts, swimsuits, dresses, and more were hugely popular.

“My demo is tabloid magazine,” Audigier said in a 2009 interview with GQ. “I am different from the other designer. Because what they say they hate, I love. They say they hate it but they always looking at it.”

Christian Audigier sold the Ed Hardy line to Iconix Brand Group in 2011 for more than $60 million.

The brand slipped in popularity almost as quickly as it soared. Kate Gosselin’s ex-husband Jon Gosselin has been mercilessly targeted in the tabloids in recent years for still wearing Ed Hardy t-shirts.

It’s sad that Christian Audigier has lost his battle with MDS. Sadly, not everyone is being respectful in light of his passing.

Surely more information about Christian Audigier’s passing and any funeral plans will be shared with the media in the coming days.

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