Legendary Designer Giorgio Armani Dies at 91

The designer Giorgio Armani died on Wednesday, September 4 at the age of 91, as confirmed in a statement Armani Group. The brief note notes that the Milanese creator died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, having worked until his last days pending the present and future projects of his firm. In recent days, details about the organic succession have pointed to designer Leo Dell’Orco and Armani’s trusted team as responsible for the gradual handover.

“In this company we have always felt part of a family - the group has pointed out in a message signed by employees and family members -; today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the man who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion and dedication.“ The fashion world thus loses one of the most influential designers of the last half century, a man who revolutionized the contemporary silhouette and built a business empire of global reach.

Born on July 11, 1934 in Piacenza, northern Italy, Armani took his first steps in fashion in 1961 in the team of fellow Italian Nino Cerruti, where he spent nine years learning the art of tailoring.

In 1970, he began his career as an independent designer and, as early as 1974, launched his first men’s collection under the brand that bears his name, together with his partner and partner Sergio Galeotti. One of his first pieces, an unstructured jacket without lining, became an icon of the new relaxed elegance that would define the Armani aesthetic. The women’s label debuted a year later, in 1976, and positioned Milan as a fashion capital alongside Paris.

Giorgio Armani created his eponymous label in the 1970s.

International recognition came soon after. In 1978, actress Diane Keaton picked up an Oscar dressed by Armani, and in 1980 Richard Gere immortalized his suits in the film American Gigolo. Since then, the relationship between Armani and cinema has become a central axis of its international projection. The designer dressed actors such as Sean Connery, Robert de Niro or Kevin Costner and collaborated with major productions.

With entrepreneurial vision, Armani created the Emporio Armani line in 1981 and later expanded his offer with Armani Jeans, Armani Junior, AX Armani Exchange and Armani Privé haute couture. He also launched perfumes in 1982, which became one of the company’s financial pillars.

In subsequent decades, the group diversified into lifestyle with hotels, decoration and gastronomy. In 2016, it founded the Armani Foundation and in 2024 celebrated its 90th anniversary with a fashion show in New York for the reopening of its flagship store on Madison Avenue. The group now has around 500 stores in 46 countries.

Unlike other great Italian names absorbed by luxury groups, Armani always defended the independence of his company, of which he was the sole owner until today. In recent times, however, the company has felt the impact of the slowdown in the luxury industry. The company reduced its turnover by 5% in 2024, to 2.3 billion euros. Europe remained the top market, with 49% of sales, followed by the Americas with 22% and Asia-Pacific with 19%, affected by the slowdown in China.

Known as the last great emperor of Italian fashion, Armani leaves behind a billion-dollar business and a unique and recognizable style, characterized by neutral tones, clean lines and fluid tailoring that bear his own signature. A funeral chapel open to the public will be held this weekend at the Armani Theater in Milan, the epicenter of his fashion shows and symbol of a life dedicated to design.