Following her death on Friday night the fashion industry has been paying tribute this weekend to Professor Louise Wilson OBE.

Wilson had been the director of the MA Fashion course at since 1992 and over the course of her career had taught some of London’s most noted designers including Alexander McQueen, , , , Phoebe Philo and .

Speaking to WWD, Kane said, ‘Louise was one of a kind. She was one of the most passionate people I have ever met. I will forever cherish the time I had with her at college and afterward, as a close friend. The fashion world has lost a true leader. No one can beat Louise’s courage and conviction. Her influence will live on in the walls of Central Saint Martins forever.’

Stylist Katie Grand, said, ‘People say she was particularly honest for someone in fashion, but she was particularly honest for anyone. She would terrify most people around her, but she was smart and just wanted her students to be good and do well. She didn’t take any crap.’

paid tribute on Twitter, posting, ‘What an inspiration and force in fashion. I send my deep sympathy to your family. No one will ever replace you because you were a true one off. Louise we will all miss you r.i.p xx stella’.

While Lulu Kennedy, who has for years helped to champion Wilson’s students, said, ‘THANK YOU Louise Wilson, my hero and friend. It was an honour to know you and work with your beloved students. RIP’.

In a statement, the British Fashion Council said, ‘It is with deep sadness that we have learnt that Professor Louise Wilson OBE has passed away. She is attributed with helping develop some of the leading lights of London Fashion Week. Over 30 designers on the current London Fashion Week schedule have been taught under her guidance including Christopher Kane, & Jonathan Saunders. It is hard to imagine Central Saint Martins or British fashion without her. She will be sorely missed. Our thoughts are with her family and friends.’

Rebecca Lowthorpe, Assistant Editor of ELLE and a former Central Saint Martins student, says, 'It's not just all the design stars she taught, Louise passionately cared that every student should reach their full potential. Imagine that, for more than 20 years. That's her true legacy, that she shaped so many young people and taught them how to be better than they could have ever imagined. It was such an honour to have known her.'