Designer Sylvie Cachay’s Soho House Death Raises Lots Of Questions, Provides Few Answers

Swimwear designer Sylvie Cachay was found dead in a bathtub at the hotel of private club Soho House on Thursday morning, and her untimely death has raised several questions.

Cachay’s ex-boyfriend, Nicholas “Nick” Brooks is being held by police while they seek a warrant to investigate him further, but an initial autopsy hasn’t provided any clues into how the 33-year-old designer died. {NY Daily News} Brooks is the son of controversial Oscar winning songwriter Joseph Brooks, who faces charges for luring women to false auditions, then sexually assaulting them.

Cachay was discovered clothed, sitting in a bathtub in a room at the Soho House with the water running. There were reportedly no signs of trauma, drug use or a struggle in the room, and the city’s medical examiner is awaiting tissue and toxicology tests to declare an official cause of death. {NY Times} Though the NY Daily News reports that a source says police believe the designer was strangled, based on bruising on her neck.

According to Sylvie Cachay’s website, the dual citizen of the US and Peru lived in the East Village and began her fashion career as an intern at Marc Jacobs, then moved to Tommy Hilfiger where she eventually became the Head Designer of Women’s Sportswear. Her next stop was as Victoria’s Secret’s head of swimwear, and in 2006 she struck out on her own with Syla, a luxury swimwear collection.

Update: Cachay’s death has officially been declared a homicide, with medical examiners saying that Cachay was held underwater and strangled. {Huffington Post} The charges against Nick Brooks will not be announced until January 4th, but he is currently being held in connection without bail.