Spain dress designer Mota in apparent suicide: sources

Mota was creative director for Pronovias for 23 years and made bridal gowns for celebrities such as model Penny Lancaster, the bride of singer Rod Stewart.

A police source who asked not to be named told AFP that Mota’s death was « violent » but not a homicide and that the investigation was closed.

Police gave no further details while El Pais newspaper said it was a suspected suicide. It cited sources in the investigation saying Mota had left a note.

El Pais said he was found dead at home in Sitges, near Barcelona where the company is based.

Pronovias mourned Mota in a statement that gave no details of the circumstances of his death.

« The Pronovias Family has lost one of their most beloved members, » said the president of the group Alberto Palatchi, in a statement.

« The memory of his collections, his shows, his hard work, his talent and his passion will remain with us forever, » Palatchi added.

« Manuel was a great man, a great colleague, a great artist and, above all, a great person. »