Legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani dies

Italian fashion designer and entrepreneur Giorgio Armani, founder of the Armani company, has died at the age of 91, Armani Group reported.

“Mr. Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and partners, passed away peacefully surrounded by his loved ones. Tireless, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, its collections, and its diverse and ever-evolving projects,” La Repubblica quoted the company’s statement as saying.

A farewell ceremony for the designer will take place in Milan at the Teatro Armani on September 6 and 7. The funeral will be held privately, in accordance with Armani’s wishes.

Armani was born in 1934 in the northern Italian city of Piacenza. From 1953 to 1955, he studied at the medical faculty of the University of Milan. In 1964, he joined the fashion house Nino Cerruti, where he mastered the technical skills of garment creation and, until 1970, was responsible for designing the men’s line Hitman.

In 1974, he presented his first collection under his own name, and the following year, on the advice of his friend, architect Sergio Galeotti, founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A. Galeotti took charge of the brand’s financial management, allowing Armani to focus fully on creativity.

Under their leadership, iconic sub-brands such as Giorgio Armani USA, Emporio Armani, and Armani Jeans were created, making high fashion more accessible to a wider audience. A distinctive feature of Armani’s empire was its independence — the brand never joined major luxury conglomerates, maintaining family control over all processes. In 2005, Armani launched his own haute couture line — Armani Privé.