Ed Hardy founder Christian Audigier dies at 57

Christian Audigier has died at the age of 57 following a long battle with cancer, reports American website LATF USA. 

"I just heard the news and I am truly devastated. Christian was an incredibly brilliant man. He will be missed," his longtime publicist, Michele Elyzabeth, told the website LATF USA.

A symbol of the American Dream, Christian Audigier was born in France in a family of modest means. He started his career there in the world of denim before establishing himself in Los Angeles at the beginning of the 2000s. It is where he launched his popular Ed Hardy label in 2014.

A friend of the stars, Christian Audigier had many projects on the go in the areas of fashion and wine. He published his autobiography "My American Dream: From the cities of Avignon, to the City of Angels", with a preface written by French rocker Johnny Hallyday, in 2009 with the French Editions Michel Lafon publishing house.

During his career, he collaborated with the likes of Guess, Levi's, Diesel, American Outfitters, Bisou Bisou, and XOXO.

The American press first announced that the designer was battling cancer last year.