Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91. This was confirmed by several media outlets, citing the Armani Group. The company was deeply shocked.
According to a statement: “Mr. Armani, as his colleagues and companions respectfully called him, passed away peacefully surrounded by his family. Until the very end, he tirelessly dedicated himself to his life’s work – the collections, the company and new projects that he had already initiated or was still planning.”
According to the Reuters news agency, Armani had been suffering from health problems for some time. In June, for the first time in his decades-long career, he had to refrain from taking part in his house’s fashion shows at Milan Men’s Fashion Week.
Giorgio Armani is considered one of the most influential fashion designers in the world. With his unmistakable style, he not only shaped Italian fashion, but also had a lasting impact on the international fashion world. He was born on July 11, 1934 in Piacenza, a small town in northern Italy. Originally, he did not immediately pursue a career in fashion. After graduating from high school, he began studying medicine in Milan, but dropped out after a short time. His fascination with fabrics, colors and shapes was ultimately stronger than his love of science.
After various positions in retail, Armani found his first formative employment at the fashion house Nino Cerruti, where he worked as a designer in the 1960s. There he acquired a deep understanding of elegant, wearable fashion and the craftsmanship behind a good cut. In 1975, together with his life partner Sergio Galeotti, he took the decisive step of founding his own company, Giorgio Armani S.p.A. This year marked the beginning of an unprecedented career.
Armani developed a clear design philosophy early on: fashion should be elegant, but never appear artificial. His designs were characterized by simple lines, subtle colors and an understated, timeless aesthetic. He became particularly famous for his reinterpreted suits. He managed to “de-structure” the classic, often stiff men’s suits by dispensing with excessive shoulder pads and allowing the fabric to fall more easily and softly. This style gave men and later women a new self-confidence – serious but relaxed at the same time.
Giorgio Armani’s international breakthrough came in the 1980s when Hollywood discovered his designs. Richard Gere wore almost exclusively Armani suits in the film American Gigolo (1980), and suddenly the whole world wanted “that look”. In no time at all, Armani became synonymous with elegant luxury, not only in fashion but also in lifestyle. His logo – the stylized eagle – became a worldwide symbol.
Over the decades, Armani consistently expanded his empire. In addition to the main line “Giorgio Armani”, other lines such as “Emporio Armani”, “Armani Exchange” and “Armani Privé” were created. He also ventured into other sectors: Furniture, perfumes, accessories, hotels and even gastronomy now bear his name. He has thus developed a global brand that goes far beyond fashion.
But despite all his success, Armani remained true to his principle of working in the background. Unlike many other designers, he never sought the limelight for its own sake. He was considered disciplined, detail-oriented and extremely dedicated. He worked in his studios every day until he was very old and was personally involved in almost every project.
In his private life, Giorgio Armani was a rather reserved person. He rarely spoke about his private life, but his close partnership with Sergio Galeotti, who died early in 1985, had a profound impact on him. After his death, Armani continued to run the company alone and developed it into one of the largest fashion houses in Italy.
He received numerous awards and honors for his achievements. In Italy, he was almost revered as a national saint, as he knew how to combine the image of “Made in Italy” with elegance and quality worldwide. His contribution to fashion history lies not only in his designs, but also in his consistent attitude: fashion should serve people and not the other way around.
When Giorgio Armani passed away at the age of 91, the world not only lost an outstanding designer, but also a visionary who redefined the language of fashion. However, his life’s work remains – in every collection, every suit, every dress that carries on the spirit of his philosophy.
