MILAN – Giorgio Armani, the legendary designer whose name became synonymous with unmistakable style and who redefined modern fashion, has died. He was 91. His passing marks a watershed moment for the industry, closing the chapter on an era defined by his absolute coherence of thought and style.
In a time of constant noise and contradiction, Armani stood as a pillar of dedication and passion. Born on July 11, 1935, in Piacenza, he founded his eponymous label in 1975. Over a 50-year career, “King Giorgio,” as he was affectionately known, built a fiercely independent empire that became a global symbol of Italian excellence.
A public memorial will be held at the Armani/Teatro on Via Bergognone 59 in Milan from Saturday, September 6, to Sunday, September 7. In accordance with his wishes, the funeral will be a private ceremony.
His career was one of unparalleled achievement, gracing the cover of Time, conquering Hollywood, and being honored with a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic by President Sergio Mattarella. Throughout, he never wavered from his ethic. He often spoke of life’s hardships, including the profound loss of his partner and co-founder, Sergio Galeotti, in 1985.
Armani’s journey was not always easy. He arrived in Milan from Piacenza and famously sold his Volkswagen Beetle to fund his business, initially plagued by self-doubt. “Little by little,” he recounted years later, “I gained the strength and courage to want to be someone in this adventure.” He revolutionized fashion with a “subtle, whispered, but heavy” revolution, dismantling decades-old rules by introducing low-heeled evening shoes, softening jacket structures, and championing androgynous dressing for women.
Even at his age, Armani remained tirelessly hands-on, personally curating a recent exhibition for his Privé line. He was the man on a first-name basis with Robert De Niro and Leonardo DiCaprio, who walked arm-in-arm with Sophia Loren, but was, above all, remembered as a gentleman in spirit.
His final romantic gesture was the acquisition of La Capannina in Forte dei Marmi, the venue where he first met Galeotti in the 1960s, intending to restore it.
News of his passing prompted a citywide mourning declaration from the Mayor of Milan. Tributes poured in from the worlds of entertainment, politics, and business. President Mattarella hailed him as a “master of style and fashion and a symbol of Italian genius in the world.” Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni called him “an icon, a tireless worker, a symbol of the best Italy.” He was universally remembered as the ambassador of Made in Italy, a man whose elegance helped define his country’s image to the world.