Italian fashion icon and billionaire Giorgio Armani, founder of the renowned luxury brand, Armani has passed away at 91.
He redefined Italian elegance, revolutionising men’s and women’s suiting with a modern, sophisticated vision. From its origins as a fashion house, Armani expanded into beauty, fragrances, music, sports, and luxury hotels.
A formidable entrepreneur, his company generated over £2 billion annually. In a statement on the brand’s Instagram, it was noted that Armani “worked tirelessly until his final days, devoted to his company, collections, and future projects.”
The statement described him as “indefatigable to the end,” fueled by “relentless curiosity and a keen focus on the present and its people.”A trailblazer, Armani elevated red carpet fashion to new heights, shaping its modern aesthetic.
He was the first designer to ban underweight models from runways following the 2006 death of model Ana Carolina Reston from anorexia nervosa. In one of his final interviews, Alexander Fury wrote in *The Financial Times*: “He gave women a uniform of suits as revolutionary as Chanel’s, crafting bold, confident clothing that fueled the working woman’s social revolution in the 1980s.
“For men, he softened tailoring, deconstructing traditional suits in a way that reshaped global menswear.”
A Hollywood favourite, Armani dressed stars like Zendaya, Cate Blanchett, and Julia Roberts for the Oscars red carpet. He also designed stage costumes for Lady Gaga and outfits for films like *American Gigolo* and *The Wolf of Wall Street*. Even in his 90s, Armani continued to showcase collections on French and Italian runways.
His March 2025 show addressed global politics, with Armani stating he “wanted to imagine new harmony” as “that is what we all need.”Health concerns emerged in June 2025 when he missed Milan Fashion Week.
He remotely directed a couture show in Paris in July 2025 from his Milan home.Vogue’s Laura Ingham called him a “true gentleman” and “titan of the industry.”
She noted, “Even if you know nothing about fashion, you know Giorgio Armani. He built a house defined by timeless Italian elegance and enduring style.”Highlighting his “refined silhouettes” and “impeccable tailoring,” she said, “His legacy is woven into fashion’s past, present, and future.”
Originally a medical student, Armani transitioned to fashion in the 1960s, founding his luxury label in 1975 with his late partner Sergio Galeotti.He faced controversy, notably in 2015 for remarks about gay men’s fashion, stating they “don’t need to dress homosexual.”
In 2014, his company settled with Italian tax authorities over offshore subsidiaries, without admitting fault.Beyond fashion, Armani was a passionate sports enthusiast, supporting Inter Milan and owning the Olimpia Milano basketball team.He received the French Legion of Honour and the Italian Order of Merit for Labour for his contributions to fashion.
SOURCE: BBC
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