His body will lie in state on Saturday and Sunday for public viewing in Milan. The funeral will be held privately at his request.
Giorgio Armani, regarded as one of the most influential fashion designers of the 20th and 21st centuries, has died at the age of 91. According to Italian media, Armani passed away at his home, where he had been recovering after a recent hospitalization that had been kept private.
“With endless sorrow, the Armani Group announces the loss of the creator, founder and tireless driving force of the company: Giorgio Armani,” the company said in a statement. His funeral will be private, according to his wishes. His body will lie in public view on Saturday, September 6 and Sunday, September 7 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Milan, inside the Armani/Teatro.
According to the company, Signor Armani, as colleagues and employees called him, died peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. “Tireless until the end, he worked until his last days, devoted to the company, the collections and the many current and future projects,” the company added.
“Over the years, Giorgio Armani created a visual language that extended from fashion into every aspect of life, anticipating each era with clarity and practicality,” the company said, noting that he had the ability to connect with everyone and was engaged and active in many areas, particularly in supporting Milan, his beloved city.
“Giorgio Armani is a company with fifty years of history, built with emotion and patience. Giorgio Armani always made independent thinking and action a trademark. The company is, now and always, a reflection of that spirit. His family and employees will carry the company forward with respect and continuity of those values,” the statement said.
An empire worth over $10 billion
The designer’s portfolio included the Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani clothing lines, the haute couture house Armani Privé and the interiors and design line Armani/Casa. He also owned the basketball club Olimpia Milano.
His company had annual revenues of around $2.7 billion. By the time of his death he had built an empire worth more than $10 billion and was among the 200 richest people on Forbes’ list.
He had reportedly been ill lately. He was forced to withdraw from his company’s Men’s Fashion shows in Milan in June — the first time this had happened in his career. However, he followed everything via FaceTime, checked the garments and reprimanded those responsible for mistakes, which resulted in delays to the show’s start.
Despite health problems, at 91 he continued to work. Although he could no longer attend the men’s shows in person, he closely followed rehearsals via video call and inspected the clothes.
Clean lines and a minimalist character
Giorgio Armani was a fashion legend, a symbol of modern style and a reformer of how people dress, especially women. His garments, with clean lines and a minimalist character, changed the fashion industry.
The designer was an advocate for women’s right to express themselves through clothing. He often said that fashion should not simply follow trends but should prioritize the expression of an individual’s personality.
A pioneer in the industry
His career was remarkable. Although he originally enrolled to study medicine, he soon realized his passion was fashion. He founded his first company in 1975. Through his actions he changed the world of fashion.
With the creation of Armani Privé and his continued success in haute couture, Armani remained a pioneer in the industry. His company launched collections of clothing, accessories, fragrances, cosmetics and furniture. He remained true to the principles that established him as one of the most iconic figures in culture and fashion for decades.
Indeed, in 2020 he caused an uproar with his remarks that designers who force women to dress according to trends without considering what suits them “rape” their customers.
From aspiring doctor to world-renowned fashion designer
Armani was born in Piacenza on July 11, 1934. As a child he wanted to become a doctor. In 1949 his family moved to Milan. He enrolled in medical school in 1953, but after three years and military service he decided not to return.
He initially worked at the famous Milan department store Rinascente as an assistant photographer. There he learned about fashion, how to do the job properly and came into contact with haute couture. In 1965 Nino Cerruti hired him to design a collection despite his lack of prior experience.
His own clothing line appeared in 1975, when the brand Giorgio Armani was founded, headquartered on Corso Venezia in Milan. A year later, his first fashion show at the Plaza Hotel in Milan was a success. Rumor has it that shortly before the show he decided to add polka-dot designs — which he drew on the fabric with a marker.
His designs liberated women and offered elegance along with comfortable fits. Armani believed that women wanted comfortable clothing that still conveyed a sense of style. In 1982 he was featured on the cover of Time magazine, although he thought this was premature and that he would have deserved it after a few more years.
His success continued, with Emporio Armani launched in 1981 for a younger generation — products like jeans and sweatshirts that were especially popular among youth — and in 1991 he created a new uniform line for Alitalia. He also had a close relationship with cinema. From dressing “American Gigolo” in 1980 to more recent films such as “The Wolf of Wall Street” and “The Social Network,” his work continued to influence both cinema and fashion.
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