Liz Claiborne, the founder of Liz Claiborne Inc. died on Tuesday at the New York Presbyterian Hospital after a longtime bout with cancer. The fashion designer was 78.

Born in Brussels, Belgium, and raised in New Orleans, Claiborne entered the fashion business at 21 when her sketch for a woman’s coat won a design competition sponsored by Harper’s Bazaar. She worked as a designer for various companies for nearly 30 years before founding her label. Ms.Claiborne’s mix-and match clothing for working women was a new approach to dressing. Her clothes were stylish and affordable resulting in an instant hit. 

Claiborne’s company went public in 1981. By 1985, Liz Claiborne Inc. was known as the first company founded by a woman to be listed in the Fortune 500.

“In losing Liz Claiborne, we have not only lost the founder of our company, but an inspirational woman who revolutionized the fashion industry 30 years ago,” said McComb, CEO of Liz Claibrone Inc. in a statement. “Her commitment to style and design is ever present in our thinking and the way we work. We will remember Liz for her vision, her entrepreneurial spirit and her enduring compassion and generosity.”