Legendary Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani dies in Italy
One of the world’s most celebrated and iconic fashion designers has died at his home in Milan at age 91.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the company said in a statement on its Instagram page. “Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”
Armani built a global, multibillion-dollar fashion empire that included clothing, accessories, shoes, fragrances, beauty and home furnishings. Known for his relaxed but elegant silhouettes, tailored suits, muted hues and understated elegance, he is credited with putting Italian ready-to-wear style on the global stage. A rarity in the fashion world, the designer never sold any of his company to an outsider and remained its sole shareholder.
Armani was also one of the first designers to understand the power of celebrities and red-carpet fashions, courting movie starts to wear his clothes. HIs Hollywood connections earned him wardrobe film credits in more than 200 movies, reported the AP. An avid sports fan, he also styled the uniforms of several soccer teams.
Born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, Armani attended medical school and did a stint in the military before going on to a career in fashion. He started as a window dresser at Milan’s famous La Rinascente department store in 1957, and was quickly promoted to buying supervisor.
Without any formal training, Armani moved on to work for designer Nino Cerruti. In 1970, he went out on his own as a freelance designer. In 1975, Armani and his partner Sergio Galeotti sold their Volkswagen for $10,000 to start their own menswear ready-to-wear label. A womenswear collection came a year later.
Armani’s rise was so swift that by 1982 he had appeared on the cover of Time. He was the first fashion designer to be so featured on the cover since Christian Dior some 40 years before.
Armani went on to grow a company that, in addition to multiple clothing lines, includes some 600 stores, restaurants and hotels. He remained in charge until his death, serving as chairman, chief executive officer and creative designer. He was planning a major event to celebrate 50 years of his signature Giorgio Armani fashion house during Milan Fashion Week later this month.
Armani is survived by his sister Rosanna, and her son Andrea Camerana; and nieces Silvana and Roberta, the daughters of his late brother. Silvana heads the womenswear collections for all Armani brands: Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange.
“Giorgio Armani is a company with fifty years of history, built with emotion and patience. Giorgio Armani always made independence – of thought and action – his hallmark,” the Armani Group stated. “The company is, now and always, a reflection of this spirit. His family and employees will carry the Group forward in respect and continuity of these values.”
Condolences poured in as the news of Armani's death spread.
"I have always had the deepest respect and admiration for Giorgio Armani, not only as a designer who never strayed from his vision, but as a man who loved his family and friends, and his homeland in such a special way," Ralph Lauren wrote in a statement to USA Today. "Though he was an icon of the world of fashion, he lived with great humility and a love of living that inspired the way he worked and the way he lived."
A public viewing will be held from Saturday, Sept. 6 to Sunday, Sept. 7, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Milan, inside the Armani/Teatro. In accordance with the designer’s explicit wishes, the funeral will be held privately.
For more detailed obituaries of Giorgio Armani, see the New York Times or WWD.