Rome, Sep 4 (EFE).- Giorgio Armani, the legendary designer hailed as the ‘king’ of Italian fashion and a pioneer of timeless elegance, died Thursday at age 91 in Milan, surrounded by family and his longtime companion, Leo Dell’Orco, his fashion group announced.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the fashion house said in a statement.
“Armani passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.”
A Tireless Creator Until the End
A few weeks before his death, Armani was hospitalized with a lung infection, forcing him to miss the June men’s haute couture show, a rare absence for a designer who worked tirelessly until his final days.
Armani, affectionately dubbed Re Giorgio (King Giorgio), revolutionized fashion in the 1970s with his “deconstructed jacket,” which softened the rigid rules of men’s tailoring and gave women new freedom through structured, androgynous suits.
His neutral palettes, especially his trademark “greige,” a blend of gray and beige, and refined navy became global hallmarks of understated luxury.
When Fashion met Hollywood
He was also among the first designers to bridge fashion and Hollywood, famously dressing actors on screen and the red carpet, from Jodie Foster to Cate Blanchett.
His creations defined modern elegance, balancing creative vision with rare independence in an industry dominated by conglomerates.
A chapel of rest will be held at the Armani Theater in Milan on Sep. 6–7, followed by a private funeral in line with his wishes.
The Empire and Its Future
Beyond fashion, Armani built a global empire of brands, hotels, and restaurants with annual revenues of 2.3 billion euros.
The group employs 8,700 people and runs 650 stores worldwide, as well as Armani Casa, Armani Beauty, Armani Ristorante, and Armani Hotels.
The group employs 8,700 people and runs 650 stores worldwide, as well as Armani Casa, Armani Beauty, Armani Ristorante, and Armani Hotels.
According to statutes approved in 2016, control of the empire will now pass to the Giorgio Armani Foundation, ensuring continuity of his legacy.
His heirs already sit on the foundation’s board, led by Dell’Orco, his nephew Luca Camerana, and Irving Bellotti, CEO of Rothschild Italia.
The foundation will not distribute profits, which by statute must be reinvested into institutional activities.
Analysts estimate the company’s current value between 6 and 7 billion euros, thanks to its revenues, prime real estate holdings in Milan, Paris, London, Hong Kong, and New York, and the prestige of the Armani name.
From Milan workshop to Global Icon
Armani’s journey began in the late 1960s, when he met Sergio Galeotti, who encouraged him to launch his own label.
Together they founded Giorgio Armani SpA in 1975, debuting a men’s collection in 1976 that immediately caught industry attention.
Over five decades, Armani became one of the rare fashion houses to remain independent. Unlike many peers absorbed by conglomerates, he resisted outside investment, maintaining full ownership of the group until his death.
This independence allowed him to shape not only his collections but also the expansion of his brand into lifestyle sectors, all united by minimalist elegance, formal rigor, and discreet quality. EFE
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