Isabel Toledo, creator of Michelle Obama's inaugural dress in 2009, has died, according to a report

She was 59 years old. The cause was breast cancer, said her husband.

Isabel Toledo attends the El Museo Del Barrio bash gala at Omar on February 29, 2016 in New York. Credit: Andrew Toth / FilmMagic / Getty Images

"Design is so different from fashion.This is why design always lasts.It's like an engineer.I like to design a garment.To make this thing work, that's it. stay standing, for this sculpture to work. "

Toledo was born in Cuba, where she learned to sew at the age of 8, because "I could not find anything I liked," she said in 2012.

After moving to the United States, she honed her career as a professional seamstress at the Fashion Institute of Technology, the Parsons School of Design, and the Costume Institute at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where she interned at Diana Vreeland.

She met her future husband, Ruben Toledo, at New Jersey High School.

It would take them several years to associate, both personally and professionally, but the two eventually became close associates in a partnership that is a marvel of the fashion world.

Both were inseparable, said Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator of the FIT Museum. The museum organized two Toledo work exhibitions that explored his love for creating models and transforming two-dimensional models into three-dimensional garments that became his signature, Steele said.

"Isabel Toledo was a brilliant fashion designer, I met her for the first time in 1990 and immediately felt that she was an original and inspiring designer – and a beautiful person," she said. said Steele.

Renowned artist and illustrator, Ruben drew his designs, including the outfit that earned him a well-known name, a change to lemongrass and a matching overcoat that Michelle Obama wore at her husband's inauguration in 2009 .

Toledo told CNN in 2012 that his inspiration was a small sample of lemongrass tissue in his studio.

Michelle Obama wore a lemon grass shirt and a matching coat designed by Isabel Toledo at its inauguration in 2009 in Washington, DC. Credit: Doug Mills / Pool / Getty Images

"The emotion behind the dress was this piece of fabric," she said.

With the time that has elapsed before the event, she explained the idea to her husband, who drew the dress, e-mailed it and quickly got the ############################################################################### 39; approval.

"I'm still sweating while thinking about this day," she said.

Despite her expertise in the fashion world, she said she preferred to focus on design.

"I am all captivated if I have to find out: How to sew this fabric? What do I say with the fabric? It has nothing to do with," what does it look like? "

Toledo also designed more traditional looks, including a series of boots, pumps, flat shoes and handbags for the Payless discount chain.