Giorgio Armani was an Italian fashion designer internationally recognized for his influential work in men’s clothing and for building one of the most prominent independent fashion houses in the world. Over several decades, he played a central role in shaping contemporary luxury fashion through design, brand expansion, and cross-industry collaborations.

Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, to Maria Raimondi and Ugo Armani, an accountant employed by a transportation company. He grew up with his siblings Rosanna Armani and Sergio Armani in a middle-class family environment.

Education and Early Career

After completing his secondary education at J. Cronin’s high school, Giorgio Armani enrolled in the Faculty of Pharmacy at the University of Milan. He left the program after three years and began working with photography from 1953 onward. In 1957, he was drafted into the Italian army and completed his military service at the infirmary of the Verona Military Hospital.

Following his discharge, Armani worked in Milan at the department store La Rinascente, initially as a window dresser and later as a sales associate in the menswear department. This experience provided him with practical exposure to fashion retail, visual merchandising, and sales.

Professional Development and Partnerships

From 1961 to 1970, Giorgio Armani worked for the fashion house of Nino Cerruti, where he focused on menswear design and tailoring. In 1969, he met Sergio Galeotti, with whom he began a professional collaboration. Starting in 1973, the two worked together as freelance designers for several fashion labels, including Allegri, Bagutta, Hilton, Sicons, Gibò, Montedoro, and Tendresse.

Founding of Giorgio Armani S.p.A.

On July 24, 1975, Giorgio Armani founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A. in Milan. Initially concentrating on menswear, he expanded into womenswear later the same year. In October 1975, he presented his first men’s ready-to-wear collection for the Spring/Summer 1976 season. His sister Rosanna Armani joined the company, while Sergio Galeotti managed the business side until his death from AIDS in 1985.

In 1978, Armani entered into an agreement with Gruppo Finanzario Tessile (GFT), enabling large-scale luxury ready-to-wear production. In 1979, he established Giorgio Armani Corporation to oversee production for the United States market.

Brand Expansion and International Growth

Throughout the late 1970s and 1980s, Giorgio Armani launched multiple product lines, including GA Le Collezioni, Giorgio Armani Underwear and Swimwear, and Giorgio Armani Accessories. These expansions supported the brand’s international growth.

In 1980, he signed an agreement with L'Oréal to develop fragrances and subsequently introduced Armani Junior, Armani Jeans, and Emporio Armani. In 1982, Emporio Armani Underwear, Swimwear, and Accessories followed, accompanied by the opening of dedicated Emporio Armani retail locations in Milan and other cities.

Film, Culture, and Public Recognition

Giorgio Armani gained significant international visibility through his work in cinema, particularly after designing the wardrobe worn by Richard Gere in the film American Gigolo (1980). He later designed costumes for The Untouchables (1987), directed by Brian De Palma and starring Sean Connery, Kevin Costner, Robert De Niro, and Andy Garcia. Over the course of his career, he designed costumes for numerous films and dressed a wide range of actors and public figures.

Later Projects and Global Presence

In the 1990s, Giorgio Armani expanded into sportswear, launching men’s and women’s ski and casual ski collections in 1995. He maintained a long-standing professional relationship with musician Eric Clapton, who composed music for Armani fashion shows and events.

The brand continued its international expansion with stores opening in Beijing in 1998 and Shanghai in 2004. In 2008, Armani designed the traditional “Goyesco” bullfighting costume used in Spain.

Sports and Olympic Design

Giorgio Armani served as president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team. He also designed the official uniforms for the Italian Olympic team for the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2012 London Summer Olympics.

Business Scale and Personal Life

By 2009, the Armani Group operated retail locations across 37 countries, including Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, A/X Armani Exchange, and accessory-focused stores. By 2017, the company reported annual revenues of approximately $1.6 billion, and Armani’s personal wealth was estimated at $8.1 billion.

Giorgio Armani publicly stated that he was bisexual.

Death and Legacy

Giorgio Armani died on September 4, 2025, at the age of 91, at his home in Milan, Italy.

Following his death, Giorgio Armani S.p.A. continued its operations across fashion, accessories, fragrances, sportswear, and related industries. The brand remained active through its established corporate structure, retail network, and licensed partnerships, with Armani’s name continuing to represent the company’s product lines worldwide.

His body of work in menswear, ready-to-wear collections, costume design, and brand development remains documented through the ongoing activities of the Armani Group, its archives, and its continued presence in international fashion markets.

Source: Biyografiler.com