Armani meticulously constructs billion-dollar fashion dynasty, exercising caution

Giorgio Armani, the renowned Italian fashion designer who revolutionized the industry with his minimalist and timeless designs, passed away on Thursday.

Born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, Armani began his career in fashion as a window dresser at a Milan department store. His passion for fashion led him to work for renowned Italian designer Nino Cerruti before opening his own design studio in 1973.

Armani's big break came in 1980 with Richard Gere's wardrobe in the film "American Gigolo". His understated looks offered a quieter, refined vision of late 20th-century Italian fashion compared to rival Gianni Versace's overtly sexy, colorful designs. This subtle approach was further celebrated when Armani was featured on the cover of "Time" magazine in 1982 under the headline "Giorgio's Gorgeous Style".

Armani's unlined linen blazers and relaxed, sophisticated separates in muted shades like greige and charcoal heralded a new unstructured, graceful way of dressing for men and women. His designs eschewed ostentation and flash, instead emphasizing simplicity and understatement.

Armani's success was not limited to fashion. He expanded into haute couture, interior design, hotels, and even chocolates. Stores, lines for jeans, perfumes, underwear, sunglasses, and the ready-to-wear line Emporio Armani soon followed, making the designer ubiquitous from the mall to the closets of the ultra-wealthy.

Giorgio Armani SpA posted revenues of 2.15 billion euros in 2019, making it Italy's second-biggest fashion house after Prada by sales. The Armani Group saluted Armani as a tireless driving force in the fashion industry.

Armani's minimalist and timeless designs remained a key aspect of his success. His more modern, pragmatic silhouettes redefined power dressing and ushered in decades of commercial success. In 2022, Armani told Vogue that his work aimed to give women inner strength through comfort and confidence in their clothing.

Galeotti, an integral part of Armani's company in its early days, managed the financial side of the business until his death in 1985. Armani was one of the first designers to dress the A-list on the red carpet, cementing his relationship with Hollywood.

Forbes has estimated that Armani himself was worth $12.1 billion (10.38 billion euros). The fashion world mourns the loss of a visionary who left an indelible mark on the industry.