Armani‘s Founding Partner, Sergio Galeotti, Remembered
Florence, Italy – sergio Galeotti, the pivotal financial and administrative force behind the rise of global fashion house Armani, is being remembered as a key architect of the brand’s success on the anniversary of his death in 1985. While Giorgio Armani is the household name, Galeotti’s contributions were essential to transforming the designer’s vision into a thriving international business.
Galeotti’s partnership with Armani began in the 1960s, culminating in the 1975 founding of Armani Spa. He provided the crucial business acumen that allowed Armani to focus on his creative work, navigating the complexities of finance and administration as the company rapidly expanded. The pair initially worked from a space in Florence’s Palazzo Pitti, where Armani showcased some of his earliest collections. Galeotti’s death from leukemia in 1985 profoundly impacted Armani, who described the loss as feeling like “a part of me died.”
Armani publicly acknowledged Galeotti’s importance, stating, “Florence is a fundamental part of my life: from this city I started to go into the experiments.” He further confided to Corriere della Sera about the agonizing year leading up to Galeotti’s passing, continuing to share fashion show photos even during his partner’s illness, witnessing his emotional response. The timing of Galeotti’s death was notably poignant,occurring as Armani was gaining international recognition and solidifying the company’s structure.