Celebrated fashion designer Michalis Aslanis was found dead in his apartment on Skoufa Street in Kolonaki, in downtown Athens yesterday afternoon.
Following an autopsy, the medical examiner announced on Thursday that an acute pulmonary edema was the cause of death. It appears that Aslanis committed suicide by ingesting a number of pills and the police have ruled out any foul play.
Aslanis was scheduled to celebrate his 40 years in the fashion industry in October, but disappeared on Sunday. Journalists later attempted to contact him, to talk about his future plans. His studio director decided to visit Aslanis at his apartment on Wednesday and made the grim discovery.
A number of handwritten notes and journal entries found in his bedroom indicate that the fashion designer faces serious financial problems and was worried about his ability to cope.
Earlier in the year Aslanis had revealed that he was financially ruined by two women, one of whom he had a very close relationship with, having supported her financially throughout her education. The other had been working for years in his fashion house.
While Aslanis claimed that the two women had been embezzling for a while, resulting in huge debts towards the tax services and banks, he did not press any charges against them.
