Giorgio Armani, Fashion Icon andโ ‘King’ of Italian Style, Dies in Milan at 91
Milan – Giorgio โคArmani, theโค legendary Italian designer who revolutionized fashionโ with his โฃrelaxed tailoring and timeless elegance, has died in Milan at the age of 91. The news marks the end of an era for the industry, leaving behind a legacy of sophisticated style and global โขbrand recognition.
Armani rose to prominence in the 1970s, challenging the structuredโข silhouettes of the time with fluid, deconstructed designs.โ he โbuilt a fashion empire encompassing ready-to-wear, couture, accessories, beauty, and home furnishings, becoming synonymous with understated luxury. His influence extended beyond clothing,shaping the aesthetic of Hollywood films and โฃdefining the modern professional wardrobe.
Throughout his career, Armani consistently soughtโข innovative ways to present his collections. He launchedโ his One Night Only extravaganza in 2006, showcasing his couture โPrivรฉ collections in cities worldwide, including London, Tokyo, Beijing, โขRome, New York, Paris, Dubai, and most recently, Venice in 2023.
In October of last year, Armani celebrated the opening of his company’s redesigned headquarters on Madison Avenue inโ New York, featuringโข residential units, an Armani/Ristorante, and new Giorgio Armani and โคArmani/Casaโ boutiques. He notably chose New York to unveilโค his spring 2025 collection, deviating from the conventionalโ Milan Fashion Week schedule.
Aโ testament to his enduring โvision,Armani openedโฃ the Armani Silos exhibition space in 2015,marking his company’s 40th anniversary. The 48,600-square-foot โฃbuilding, a restored granary designed with input from Tadao Ando, โคshowcased not only Armani’s designsโ but also photography exhibitions by artists like Larry Fink and Sarah Moon. He also established the Filmaking Workshop โฃat Silos, offering aspiring filmmakers the opportunity toโ produce short films in partnership with โdirectors such as Luca Guadagnino.Armani’s contributions to fashion andโ culture were widely recognized with โnumerous accolades,beginning with the Neiman Marcusโ fashion Awardโ in 1979.He received two of Italy’s highest honors – the Commendatore dell’Ordine al merito della Repubblica and Grand’Ufficiale dell’Ordine al Merito della Repubblica – and also the CFDA’s Best International Designer and Lifetime Achievement Awards forโ both menswear and artโ and fashion. He was awarded an honorary degree from London’s Central Saint Martin’s College in 2006 and one โin industrial design from the Politecnico of Milan. In 2008, French President Nicholas Sarkozy presented him with the Legion d’Honneur, and in 2019, WWD bestowed upon him the John B. Fairchildโฃ Honorโ award.
Beyondโฃ fashion, Armani โขdedicated himself to humanitarianโ efforts, serving as a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations high Commission forโ Refugees. He was also honored on the Rodeo Drive Walk of Style in 2003.
