Renowned Italian fashion icon Giorgio Armani passes away at 91 years old

Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion designer known for turning the concept of understated elegance into a multibillion-dollar empire, has passed away at the age of 91. The Armani Group released a statement saying Armani passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.

Born on 11 July 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, Armani's journey in the fashion industry began in 1975 when he and his partner Sergio Galeotti started their own menswear ready-to-wear label with $10,000 from the sale of their Volkswagen. This humble beginning laid the foundation for a fashion empire that would revolutionise the world of fashion.

Armani's style impacted both how people dressed and approached fashion to the extent that the Guggenheim museum presented a retrospective of his first 25 years in fashion in 2000. His designs, fashioned in super-soft fabrics and muted tones, became a must-have for well-heeled men and women alike. The Armani suit was a staple for men, while the Armani pantsuit, dubbed the "power suit," became a trademark of the rising class of businesswomen in the 1980s.

Longtime devotees to Armani's fashion included Jodie Foster, Sean Penn, George Clooney, Sofia Loren, and Brad Pitt. In the film industry, Armani made his mark with the 1980 classic American Gigolo and actor Richard Gere. Armani earned wardrobe film credits in over 200 films and was inducted on Rodeo Drive's "Walk of Fame" in 2003.

Armani's fashion empire expanded beyond clothing, with his designs gracing the runway for over four decades. He put Italian ready-to-wear style on the international fashion map in the late 1970s. His designs were not just clothing; they were living examples of the absolute best, as he once stated, "I love things that age well, things that don't date and become living examples of the absolute best."

In recent years, Armani had planned a special exhibition to honor the 50 years of his company at the Pinacoteca in Milan's Brera district and a major event including a legendary party during Milan Fashion Week to celebrate the anniversary. Unfortunately, he missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 for the first time to recover from an undisclosed condition.

Giorgio Armani leaves behind an empire worth over $10 billion and a legacy that will continue to influence the fashion world for years to come. His passing has been mourned by many, including Giorgia Meloni, the prime minister of Italy, who shared a tribute to the fashion legend.

David and Victoria Beckham were the "face" of Armani's 2009 underwear ad campaign, and Armani's close relationship with his niece Roberta, who abandoned a film career to become his director of public relations, was well-documented. Armani's partner Sergio died in 1985, and he had no children, but his influence on the fashion industry will live on.

In the words of Armani, "Fashion is a language that creates itself in a continuous exchange with the world and with the woman who chooses it." Armani's fashion created a new language for the world, and his legacy will continue to be a part of that ongoing exchange for years to come.