Australian fashion designer Ruth Tarvydas, who counted high-profile celebrities amongst her clients, has died.

Ms Tarvydas was found dead outside her East Perth apartment on Friday morning.

She had faced financial difficulties in recent years and was forced to close her Perth CBD store in 2012.

Her clothes have been sold in high-fashion London stores including Harrods and Selfridges.

Her high-profile clients included Rihanna, Emma Watson, Amy Winehouse, Jodie Kidd, Rachel Hunter and Jennifer Hawkins.

One of her best-known designs was the red backless gown model Rebecca Twigley wore to the Brownlow Medal ceremony in 2004.

Speaking outside her apartment, Ms Tarvydas's business colleague Jeremy Balius paid tribute to the designer.

"Ruth Tarvydas was a true Australian icon," he said.

"The beauty she created and gave to our world through her fashion creations will last forever.

"Ruth was the embodiment of passion, strength and empowerment.

"When I spoke with her yesterday [Thursday] we laughed and talked at length about what the future holds and the bright horizon we could see.

"Our final words to each other were that we felt blessed to have each other in our lives. I'm thankful of the time we had together."

Fans of her work, including international designer Aurelio Costarella, have taken to social media to voice their sadness about Ms Tarvydas's death.

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Mr Costarella said he had known Ms Tarvydas for 25 years.

"She really paved the way for all of us," he told ABC TV.

"I really looked up to Ruth in so many ways, and it's just such a sad loss for the industry.

"Ruth really was the first West Australian designer to go out there and make her mark internationally.

"I mean she's part of West Australian history as far as I'm concerned."

Ms Tarvydas began designing clothes as a teenager in the 1960s and opened a shop in King Street in Perth in 2008.

In 2012 Ms Tarvydas said high rental rates and ongoing roadworks had forced her business into administration.

She later opened a shop in Claremont, in Perth's western suburbs.

Ms Tarvydas grew up in the Perth suburb of Tuart Hill, the daughter of migrant parents who moved to Western Australia from Lithuania.

At the age of 19, she and her brother Harvey opened a tiny shop tucked behind a pharmacy on Hay Street in Perth.

At the time, Ms Tarvydas was said to be the youngest boutique owner in Australia.

The Tarvydas brand became the first Australian fashion label to export overseas.

Her dresses have been stocked in the US, the UK, Canada, Germany and throughout Asia.

Police said there were no suspicious circumstances and a report would be prepared for the coroner.