Giorgio Armani,Fashion Icon and Billionaire,Dies at 91
Milan,Italy – Giorgio Armani,the celebrated Italian fashion designer who built a global empire valued between 8 to 10 billion euros (approximately Rp 153.21 – 191.52 trillion), has died, the Armani Group announced Thursday, September 4, 2025. He was 91 years old.
“Giorgio Armani, and collaborators, died calmly, surrounded by loved ones,” the Armani Group stated in an official release, as reported by CNN.
The company pledged to uphold Armani’s legacy. “In our spirit, our employees and family members who work with Armani’s father, commit to protect what he wakes up and develop his company to remember him, with respect, obligation, and love,” the statement continued.
born in Piacenza, Northern Italy, in 1934, Armani initially pursued medical studies before serving in the military. His entry into the fashion world began in 1957 with a position as a storefront designer at La Rinascente in Milan. In 1964,designer Nino Cerruti hired Armani as a men’s clothing designer,where he began refining his signature style – softening traditional jacket construction to better flatter the body.
In 1975, Armani and his business and life partner, architect Sergio Galeotti, founded the Giorgio Armani brand. Their debut men’s collection gained traction in the United States, debuting at Barney’s New York in 1976, accompanied by television advertisements.
The brand expanded over the years to include armani Jeans, Armani Exchange, and Armani/Casa, a home interior line. In 2011, Armani opened a sprawling complex in Milan, encompassing retail spaces for all armani lines, and also a nightclub, luxury hotel, and offerings like chocolate, flowers, jewelry, and cosmetics.
Throughout his career, Armani received numerous accolades, including the Grand Officer of the Order of the Italian Republic in 2021 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
As of 2024, a successor to lead the Armani business had not been publicly named.