Giorgio Armani, the visionary designer who revolutionised modern fashion with his sleek tailoring and effortless style, has died at the age of 91.
The announcement came on Thursday from the Armani Group, the company he built and led for more than five decades, which described him as its “creator, founder, and tireless driving force.”
Affectionately nicknamed “Re Giorgio” — King Giorgio — in his native Italy, Armani was more than just a designer. He was a perfectionist who oversaw every detail of his empire, from advertising campaigns to backstage preparations where he famously adjusted models’ hair before they stepped onto the runway.
His influence transformed Milan into a global fashion capital and cemented Italy’s reputation as a leader in style.
Armani’s story was one of vision fused with business acumen. From a simple starting point, an unlined jacket, a clean-cut pair of trousers, and a palette of muted tones — he created a relaxed yet powerful silhouette that defined an era.
By the late 1970s, his ready-to-wear collections had redefined Italian fashion on the world stage, bridging the gap between executive offices and Hollywood red carpets. His empire would eventually generate an annual turnover of €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion), yet he retained sole ownership until his death, working with a loyal circle of colleagues and family.
The designer had been in declining health and, for the first time, missed his group’s catwalk presentations at Milan Men’s Fashion Week in June.
His absence signalled the closing of a chapter in the city where he had made his home, and where a funeral chamber will open this weekend for admirers to pay their respects. His funeral will be held privately on Monday.
Tributes have continued to pour in from across the world of fashion and film. Julia Roberts, who made headlines when she wore an Armani men’s suit to the 1990 Golden Globes, remembered him as “a true friend. A legend.” Her sentiment echoed the feelings of many who saw Armani not only as a designer but as a cultural figure whose work spoke across generations.
What set Armani apart was not only the softness of his fabrics and the elegance of his lines, but also his insistence on subtlety. His restrained palette of beige, grey, and black became a canvas for nuanced detailing and luxurious fabrics.
His reach extended well beyond the runway. Armani restaurants, bars, and clubs carried his minimalist aesthetic into dining and nightlife, while his ownership of basketball team EA7 Emporio Armani Milan — better known as Olimpia Milano — showed his flair for linking sport and lifestyle under one brand. Armani became not just a name but a global universe of taste, precision, and elegance.
Yet for those who worked alongside him, Armani was as much a man of warmth as of discipline. “He treated everyone as equals and felt at ease among young people,” recalled Mauro Barbieri, a former warehouse worker who spent 32 years at the company.
“He’d invite us to birthday parties and dinners at his villa in Broni — tailors, mailmen, sales assistants. We were all part of his world.”
