Italian fashion designer and billionaire entrepreneur Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91, the Armani Group announced on Thursday.
Armani, revered as the architect of modern Italian style and elegance, transformed the global fashion industry with his understated yet powerful designs, from unstructured men’s jackets to androgynous womenswear. His influence extended beyond clothing, shaping red-carpet glamour, sportswear, luxury hotels, and even music.
In a statement on Instagram, the Armani Group said its founder “worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections and the many ongoing future projects,” describing him as “indefatigable to the end.”
“Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” the Armani Group said in a statement.
“Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”
Born in 1934 in Piacenza, northern Italy, Armani studied medicine before a stint in the military. In 1957, he entered fashion as a window dresser at Milan’s La Rinascente department store. By 1964, he was designing menswear for Nino Cerruti, where he mastered the unstructured jacket that would later become his signature.
In 1975, alongside his partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani founded his namesake label. Their first menswear collection was quickly embraced in the United States, with Barneys New York introducing the brand to American shoppers. A womenswear line soon followed, debuting a bold, androgynous aesthetic.
Armani’s breakthrough came in 1980, when actor Richard Gere wore his designs in American Gigolo, cementing the Armani suit as a Hollywood status symbol. The designer went on to dress some of the world’s most famous stars, from Sophia Loren to Sean Connery, shaping the look of the red carpet for decades.
After Galeotti’s death in 1985, Armani became the company’s sole shareholder. He expanded the brand into multiple lines, including Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, Armani Jeans, and Armani/Casa, and later into luxury hotels, with properties in Dubai’s Burj Khalifa and Milan.
Armani also left his mark on sports, buying Italy’s top basketball team, Olimpia Milano, in 2008 and creating the EA7 sportswear line. He designed Italy’s Olympic uniforms for the 2012, 2016, and 2020 Games.
As of 2024, analysts valued the Armani empire at €8–10 billion ($9.3–11.7 billion), with annual revenues of more than £2 billion. Unlike rivals Versace and Gucci, Armani remained independent, retaining full ownership of his company.
Over his career, Armani received numerous accolades, including the Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic in 2021 and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Council of Fashion Designers of America. In 2002, he was appointed Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
In June 2025, the designer missed his brand’s Milan Men’s Fashion Week show for the first time in his career, with the company announcing he was recovering at home. His absence had fueled speculation about his health.
Despite his passing, Armani’s legacy endures. His designs, synonymous with precision, timelessness, and elegance, remain sought after in the secondhand market and continue to inspire celebrities and fashion lovers worldwide.
