Keighery loses cancer battle

SYDNEY: The fashion industry is this week mourning the loss of Mark Keighery, who succumbed to cancer at Sydney's Royal Prince Alfred Hospital just after 10pm on July 17, following a nine year battle with the disease. Keighery, who founded iconic Australian brand Marcs and was regarded as a leading light of the Australian fashion industry, died surrounded by his wife Lisa, sons Jack, 11, and Harry, eight, and close friends. He was 53.

Keighery had reportedly been admitted to RPA earlier in the week suffering from an infection following recent surgery in the US. Initially diagnosed with kidney cancer, the disease later spread to Keighery's lungs, forcing him to sell the Marcs fashion empire in 2002 for $22 million, although he retained interest in the Diesel fashion chain.

Keighery began importing clothing in 1979, focusing on minimalist labels such as Dries Van Noten, Issey Miyake, John Smedley and Diesel. Starting life as a basics range designed to complement these labels, the Marcs label soon gained a highly successful profile of its own. Now owned by M Webster Holdings along with high recall brands such as Morrissey, David Lawrence and Jigsaw, Marcs still holds sway as a leading home-grown brand.

Keighery's funeral takes place this week.