The Fashion World Pays Tribute to Supermodel Tatjana Patitz Following Her Death at 56

The fashion industry is remembering the life and legacy of late German supermodel Tatjana Patitz.

On Wednesday, Vogue announced the news of her death at 56. Her agent later confirmed to PEOPLE the cause was breast cancer.

Considered one of the original supermodels, the Germany-born, Sweden-raised catwalker was also known for her appearance in George Michaels' "Freedom '90" music video. Patitz starred alongside her peers and fellow supers Cindy Crawford, Christy Turlington, Naomi Campbell and Linda Evangelista.

Remembering her legacy and impact, members of the fashion community — from Patitz's model comrades and artists to photographers and editors — shared tributes on social media.

"Tatjana was always the European symbol of chic, like Romy Schneider-meets-Monica Vitti," said Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of Vogue. "She was far less visible than her peers—more mysterious, more grown-up, more unattainable—and that had its own appeal."

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Crawford took to Instagram with a picture of the two of them. She recalled their beginnings, writing: "We were babies together in the fashion industry and I feel like we grew up together. We were in so many shoots together and backstage at shows. I found her soft-spoken, sensitive, kind, inquisitive and, who could ever forget those piercing eyes. Her love of animals and nature was infectious."

She concluded with condolences to Patitz's family, including her son Jonah.

Campbell shared a collection of photos from over the years in a tribute to Patitz. She recalled memories with Patitz, calling her "earth angel." "

"When I met you at 16 at the Alaia show, I remember just saying 'wow!!' Your presence and stature. Your eyes and nervous shy smile, goddess energy that we were all drawn to…My first time in LA I got to experience it with you, showing me the sites and beaches, driving around in your red Volkswagen convertible."

Turlington took to Instagram to share her own memories of Patitz, writing that the German model was "always a vision." She recalled a time when she was 16 and traveled to Paris for a job and Patitz was tasked with being her keeper. "Tatjana took me in, under her wing. I stayed in her apartment for a night in Paris on my way home on the floor of her cool pied de terre on the left bank. You are unforgettable and are forever in my heart."

Shortly after Vogue released the news, late German photographer Peter Lindbergh's team responded to her passing on Twitter, their post reading: "We are deeply saddened by the passing of Tatjana Patitz, a long-time friend of Peter's. We would like to salute Tatjana's kindness, inner beauty and outstanding intelligence. Our thoughts go to her loved ones and particularly Jonah. She will be immensely missed."

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Lindbergh's team also shared a separate tribute to Instagram — a striking black-and-white portrait of Patitz. The photographer, who died in 2019 at age 74, worked with Patitz and helped grow her career in 1988.

Supermodel Helena Christensen commented, "This is deeply deeply sad," and also reposted a video of Patitz, originally shared by makeup artist Stephane Marais on her Instagram Story. "Heartbroken," she wrote.

She later followed it up with a lengthy Instagram tribute to her friend, writing in part, "I loved being around you, it felt so peaceful and we always laughed a lot."

Marais' video, a scene pulled from a vintage black-and-white montage, captured the essence of the late model's drive and passion.

"I'm willing really to give as much as I can for it. Creativity to me is life in a sense," Patitz says in the clip. "The different parts that you have to portray – it's all inspirational. I love to experience it, I love to give to it – I love to give it as it feeds me because it feeds me in an incredible way. You know it's almost like a little fire inside of you burning for it."

Marais, who remembered Patitz as an "angel," captioned the post: "An Angel just left us….A devastating awful news….I am heart broken…My loved Tatjana rest in peace.All my thoughts to her Son, Family and friends..Love you."

Celebrity makeup artist Pati Dubroff also opened up about her moments working with Patitz, writing on Instagram: "@tatjanapatitz was one of the first models I met and connected with when we were both in our early 20s. She was already a "supermodel" and i was 'just' an assistant. She was kind, cool and so down to earth."

Photographer Ellen von Unwerth shared on Instagram one of her "favorite" shoots she did with the model for Vogue Italia, writing, "Her eyes could tell stories !"

Paulina Porizkova shared a lengthy Instagram for Patitz, recalling that she hadn't had the opportunity to cross paths with her much, but felt her loss nonetheless. She recalled a night when the two became close after chatting for hours. "I got to know this beautiful woman, get a sense of her fragility and her full heart. Her love for animals, her horses and dogs, nature and art, (yes, she painted) and most of all the love for her little son.It was an in-depth dive into our souls from which I walked away filled with genuine affection, tenderness and respect for her."

She concluded her post, writing, "Death sucks and it isn't fair."