LONDON — Joe Bates, one of the three designers behind London’s Sibling label, has died, a spokesman for the label confirmed Tuesday.  The spokesman confirmed a report that appeared on Love Magazine’s Web site Tuesday, which said that Bates (center), who was 47, had died over the past weekend, “after a long and brave battle with cancer.” The spokesman noted that “the team at Sibling would like to thank everyone for their support through this difficult time.” 

Bates launched Sibling in 2008 with fellow designers Sid Bryan and Cozette McCreery. The label is known for its vibrant knitwear with a tongue-in-cheek sensibility. While the label started with men’s designs, the collective added a women’s label, Sister by Sibling, for the spring 2012 season.

Sibling’s latest women’s collection, for spring 2015, took Eighties Madonna as its muse,

 while the men’s spring 2016 collection was inspired by American football, and showcased suits by Edward Sexton alongside the label’s signature knits. The label’s spokesman confirmed that Sibling will continue following Bates’ death, and that Cozette and Bryan will showcase their spring 2016 collection at London Fashion Week in September.