Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer who became one of the most successful and acclaimed names in fashion history, died September 4, 2025, at his home in Milan at the age of 91.

Armani was widely regarded as one of the most influential fashion designers of all time. With a career that spanned more than five decades, he left a lasting mark on the global fashion industry to the point that his name and the brand are synonymous.

After initially studying medicine at the University of Milan, Armani ventured into the fashion world in 1957. He began as a window dresser and salesperson at the La Rinascente department store in Milan, which in turn led him in the Nino Cerruti fashion house. He and his business partner, Sergio Galeotti, launched Giorgio Armani S.p.A. in 1975 to near instant acclaim, with designs that were considered groundbreaking in their ability to merge traditional styles with modern looks.

Over the decades, Armani expanded his brand into a fashion empire. The company introduced numerous lines, including Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Armani Jeans, and Armani Junior, to cater to different demographics. Armani's partnerships, such as working with L'Oréal for his beauty and fragrance collections and creating costumes for films like "American Gigolo" and "The Untouchables," also helped turn his name into an in-demand brand.

Armani is credited with popularizing the concept of "red carpet fashion," e.g. dressing celebrities in his designs for major events and generating huge press and cultural impact in the process. By 2001, he was celebrated as the world's most successful Italian designer. In a 2024 interview with Esquire, he said, "Perfection in style, for me, is when the dress is so great, so elegant, so precise, you completely forget about it and you focus on the individual wearing it."

Armani was the first designer to broadcast an haute couture show online in 2007 and championed initiatives promoting sustainability and inclusivity in fashion.

Today, the Giorgio Armani brand operates across the globe and generates billions annually, with Armani himself boasting personal wealth well into the billions as of 2017. He was awarded the prestigious Compasso d'Oro Career Award and Italy's Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit in 2014 and 2021, respectively.

By Eric San Juan

(Image: Bernd Settnik/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images)