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.”