Giorgio Armani obit

Giorgio Armani, legendary Italian fashion designer, dies at 91

 

He was not on the list.

Giorgio Armani, the famed Italian fashion designer who achieved elegance and timelessness through simplicity, has died. He was 91.

Armani "worked until his final days," the Armani Group said in a statement Thursday, Sept. 4, announcing his death.

"Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones," the Armani Group said in the statement.

"Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects," the statement continued.

Armani combined the flair of the designer with the acumen of a businessman, running a company that turned over some $2.7 billion a year. He had been unwell for some time, and was forced to drop out of his group's shows at Milan's Men's Fashion Week in June, the first time in his career that he had missed one of his catwalk events.

Born in Piacenza, Italy, in 1934, Armani was raised in the northern part of the country and swapped early medical ambitions for a fashion career, launching his eponymous label in 1975.

Marking 50 years in the fashion industry in 2024, the house that Armani built was made durable by its commitment to well-fitting classics, combining expert tailoring and pragmatism with an elevated flair. From silken suits to heady colognes, the Armani brand is easily described as rich, not just in price tag but in substance.

His design empire stretched into nearly all facets of modern entertainment and style, encompassing a popular beauty brand with a cult-favorite foundation, and a sometimes understated red carpet approach that graced the bodies of stars like Julia Roberts, Michelle Pfeiffer and Richard Gere. An avid sports fan, Armani was also behind the uniforms of several soccer teams and crossed his design interest into the hospitality space, opening a line of luxury hotels.

"Over the years, Giorgio Armani has crafted a vision that expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism," the company's statement said. "He has been driven by relentless curiosity and a deep attention to the present and to people. Along this journey, he established an open dialogue with the public, becoming a beloved and respected figure for his ability to connect with everyone. Always mindful of the needs of the community, he has been active on many fronts, especially in support of his beloved Milan."

In a separate statement, attributed to his employees and family, Armani's loved ones mourned the "void" left behind by a visionary with "passion and dedication."

"In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication," the statement read.

"But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love."

A notoriously private man, Armani never married, but told Vanity Fair in 2000 that he had been in sexual relationships with both men and women.

Armani's funeral will be held in Milan from Sept. 6-7 and will be a private ceremony, which he expressly requested, according to the company.