Giorgio Armani, the celebrated Italian fashion designer who built a global empire, has died, his company said on Thursday. He was 91.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the fashion house said in a statement.
His vast portfolio included the Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani apparel lines alongside the haute couture label Armani Privé and an Armani Casa design and interiors line.
He was absent from his last three shows, held in June and July, owing to illness.
He had been expected to attend the brand’s 50th anniversary celebrations later this month, including a landmark exhibition at the Pinacoteca di Brera in Milan.
The founder and sole shareholder of Giorgio Armani SpA, Armani reportedly refused numerous offers throughout his career to become part of one of the big four luxury fashion conglomerates. He described the independence of his brand as “an essential value”.
His inaugural 1975 presentation pioneered the idea of soft power dressing, earning him the title “King of the Blazer”. His proposition of fluid rather than structured suiting featuring longer-cut suit jackets, loosely pleated trousers, and floor-sweeping belted coats formed an entirely new approach to dressing.
He applied the same techniques to wear, freeing many from the fussy and figure-hugging silhouettes prescribed by other brands. His muted colour palette of greys and beige became synonymous with stealth wealth, long before the idea of quiet luxury entered the lexicon.
In 1980, the brand was catapulted to international fame when Richard Gere wore numerous pieces designed by Armani in the film American Gigolo.
This also pioneered a new way of working with Hollywood. While in the past couturiers had a relationship with one such specific star, such as Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey Hepburn, Armani had multiple.
In 1978, Diane Keaton became the first actor to wear Armani on the Oscars red carpet.
Jodie Foster has worn it to every ceremony but one since 1989, while Julia Roberts’ 1990 look of a steel grey oversized Armani suit teamed with a white shirt and tie has become one of the most memorable Golden Globes looks of all time.
Born in Piacenza in northern Italy in 1934, Giorgio Armani originally pursued a career in medicine. He left the University of Milan before completing his degree to join the army.
Shortly afterwards, he began looking for a different type of career. “I got into fashion almost by accident, and then it slowly grew in me until it completely absorbed me, stealing my life away,” he previously said.
After working as a window dresser and later a sales associate at La Rinascente, a notable department store in Milan, he took on a menswear design role at Nino Cerruti.
Giorgio Armani was 41 when he launched his own label. It was his partner Sergio Galeotti, an architect by training, who convinced him to sell his Volkswagen Beetle to fund his own company.
Galeotti ran the books while Armani focused on the creative side. When Galeotti died in 1995, Armani continued alone.
Armani-branded products generated £3.5bn in 2021. They included a collection of hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, cosmetics, chocolates, and even floristry.
Giorgio Armani liked to keep the business within the family.
After his spring/summer 2022 collection, Armani for the first time took his bow alongside Leo Dell’Orco, the head of the men’s style office, who originally joined the company in 1977.
When asked in a 2022 interview how he’d like to be remembered, Armani replied: “As a sincere man. I say what I mean.”
Tributes To Giorgio Armani
Tributes continue to pour in for Giorgio Armani following his death at age 91, with Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe among those honoring the legendary designer’s legacy.
Crowe, who had planned to meet Armani in Milan later this month, shared a heartfelt message.
“I adored him. He was so kind. So many significant moments in my life—awards, wedding, Wimbledon… all in Armani.”
Russell Crowe
He described the designer as someone who “made a mark acknowledged around the globe,” and reflected on his journey “from his beginnings to his glory.”
Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto also made a post on X, paying tribute to Armani.
“The death of Giorgio Armani represents a great loss for our country. Master of elegance and innovation, he knew how to combine creativity, rigor, and vision, becoming a symbol of Italian genius in the world. His figure embodied those values of sobriety, determination, and style that are part of Italy’s most authentic identity.
“I wish to express my deepest condolences and closeness to his loved ones, his collaborators, and all those around the world who have admired his work. Giorgio Armani’s legacy will live forever in the collective memory of our country, as an example of Italian excellence and inspiration for future generations. To God, Master.”
Italian Minister of Defense Guido Crosetto
Two of Italy’s most prominent football clubs have honored Giorgio Armani following his death at age 91, recognizing the designer’s lasting influence on sport and style.
Juventus, which recently partnered with Armani to design its formal team wardrobe, called him a “timeless icon of elegance and Italian style” in a tribute shared on X.
Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis also expressed his condolences, writing, “It’s with great sadness that I learn of the death of my friend Giorgio Armani.”
Armani’s EA7 brand previously sponsored Napoli, and De Laurentiis credited the designer with elevating the club’s image while supporting Italian sport.
