Giorgio Armani, Fashion Icon And Founder Of Giorgio Armani, Dies At 91

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Designer Giorgio Armani walks the runway at the Emporio Armani fashion show during the Milan Menswear Fall/Winter 2024-2025.

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Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer renowned for redefining elegance by using clean lines and understated luxury, has passed away at the age of 91.

As tributes pour in from members of the fashion industry and beyond we reflect on the unique legacy of a visionary who not only transformed fashion but, more importantly, redefined elegance itself as something classic, sophisticated and at times quiet.

It was precisely this quiet luxury that became Mr. Armani’s key to success. According to the Economic Times, he had a net worth of $12.1 billion, and as per the Bloomberg Index, Giorgio Armani’s net worth is $9.4 million. In fiscal year 2024, says Fashion Network, the Armani Group reported consolidated net revenues of €2.3 billion, a 5% decrease at constant exchange rates, primarily due to a slowdown in the luxury market. Overall, however, Armani is still considered Italy’s third-biggest fashion group behind Gucci and Prada.

From Modest Beginnings to Global Icon

Giorgio Armani was born into a modest family in the city of Piacenza, in Northern Italy. His path was unusual: he studied medicine at the University of Milan and then completed his two-year national military service before embarking on a career in fashion at the age of 40. He began his creative journey at La Rinascente department store in Milan, where he was first employed as a window dresser. He was then promoted to the position of menswear buyer and in 1964 he worked for the global luxury brand Nino Cerruti, where he designed the Cerruti Hitman collection. A free spirit, Giorgio Armani became a freelance designer, selling his Volkswagen Beetle to fund his new venture, supported by his partner and business associate, the architect Sergio Galeotti. In 1975, he launched his own company: Giorgio Armani S.p.A., and the rest, as they say, is history.

Redefining Elegance

Armani’s ready-to-wear collections reflected his unique style: simplicity, elegance, and an ability to effortlessly reinvent the classics, making them his own. He also revolutionized tailoring by breaking traditional codes. He introduced an unstructured, tailored jacket with no lining or stiff padding, for example, which could be worn by both men and women, encapsulating his fresh, relaxed vision. This new aesthetic was welcomed by many, including a glamorous audience that could relate to his modern take on simplicity.

In 1978, for example, Diane Keaton wore an Armani ensemble featuring a relaxed, tailored jacket when she received an Oscar for Best Actress for her performance in Annie Hall—the first of many iconic Armani red-carpet looks. Indeed, Armani has become a staple on the red carpet, much loved by many celebrities who share his vision of beauty and timeless glamour.

His menswear collections, which he sported himself, were equally strong. A turning point during the 1980s was when he dressed Richard Gere in the slick US crime blockbuster American Gigolo, directed by Paul Schrader (starring Richard Gere and Lauren Hutton). The costumes for the film highlighted his much celebrated talent for selecting clean silhouettes, textures, and contrasting colors.

Power dressing was also a trend at this time, which he welcomed with new shapes that included creations with broad shoulders and wide lapels in both women’s and men’s collections.

As his empire expanded, Hollywood became one of Giorgio Armani’s greatest stages: he went on to design the costumes for over 200 movies including Brian de Palma’s The Untouchables in 1987 with Kevin Costner and Robert de Niro, The Wolf of Wall Street by Martin Scorsese in 2013 (starring Leonardo DiCaprio as a ruthless Wall Street trader), and also in 2013 the science-fiction movie Elysium, by Neill Blomkamp, with Jodie Foster—a close friend of his and one of his favorite actresses,

Throughout his career, a sense of discreet elegance has been a running thread in the work of Mr. Armani, as he was affectionately called in the industry. He was also referred to by many as “Re Giorgio”, King Giorgio, in recognition of his talent and success in creating an accessible yet refined quintessential Italian style that reached many generations.

Speaking to Tobias Kormind, managing director of 77 Diamonds, he told me that Giorgio Armani put Milan on the global fashion map and that he made Made in Italy synonymous with the easy elegance Italian women simply excel at—from the power suit of the 1980s to dressing Hollywood on and off the red carpet. “His genius was showing the world that true luxury could be understated, and that vision still shapes the city’s fashion identity today,” says Tobias. He tells me that when 77 Diamonds first opened their Milanese showroom, it was clear why Milan mattered: “The city breathes Armani’s spirit of refinement and continues to inspire anyone working in luxury,” he says.

Building an Empire Beyond Fashion

The Armani brand has undergone a considerable expansion since its modest inception. In 1979, a successful children’s line, Armani Junior and Armani Baby, was launched (with the first Armani Junior exclusive store opening in 1986 in Milan), and three years later, a hugely successful diffusion line, Armani Jeans, was added. Another line, Armani Collezione, followed in 1982, based on the main designer collection but more affordable, targeting a new customer base.

Perfume was introduced in 1988 (Armani licensed L’Oréal as their cosmetics partner) followed by cosmetics. Interiors were also covered with the launch in 2000 of Armani Casa, selling textiles and home décor. Armani Privé, a made-to-measure haute couture line, was created in 2005. Alongside Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani, it showcases at Milan Fashion Week and has become an integral and highly respected part of the event. The Armani lifestyle extends into their many restaurants and luxury hotels, located in Milan and Dubai.

A Legacy of Simplicity and Power

Giorgio Armani, inspired and paved the way for many. He also, in the process, built one of the most influential fashion empires of the last half-century. As we reflect on his legacy, it is clear that he will be remembered for many things, most notably for his pure and unassuming vision, as well as for his redefinition of elegance.

The fashion world has lost a true visionary, someone who will be remembered for his unadulterated elegance, reflecting his Italian heritage.

Giorgio Armani was a designer whose love for modern simplicity was rooted in timeless style, but it was his eye for detail that set him apart, elevating simplicity into luxury. His ability to appreciate every last quiet detail turned minimalism into an art form, making luxury both accessible and aspirational. As he once said, in an interview with GQ magazine, “I like everything that’s simple. That isn’t loud. That can be appreciated up close. My creative process is a continuous re-invention of this basic idea”.