Italian Fashion Icon Who Revolutionised Power Dressing and Built £9 Billion Empire Dies Peacefully in Milan
Fashion’s most successful independent designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91, the Armani Group announced on Thursday, just weeks before planned celebrations marking the brand’s 50th anniversary. The designer, who built one of the world’s last major independent fashion empires valued at over £9 billion ($12.1 billion), passed away peacefully surrounded by loved ones at his Milan home.
“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, describing the founder as “a tireless driving force” who “worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections and the many ongoing and future projects.”
The Italian designer’s death on 4 September 2025 marks the end of an era for fashion’s last great independent house. Unlike rivals consumed by luxury conglomerates LVMH and Kering, Armani fiercely guarded his company’s autonomy, remaining sole shareholder and chief executive until his final days.
The Visionary Who Transformed Fashion
Born in Piacenza on 11 July 1934, Armani’s journey to fashion royalty began unexpectedly. After abandoning medical school and serving in the Italian military, he found work as a window dresser at Milan’s La Rinascente department store in 1957. His natural eye for merchandising led to roles at fashion houses including Nino Cerruti, where he honed his minimalist aesthetic.
I got into fashion almost by accident, and then it slowly grew in me until it completely absorbed me, eating my life away,” Armani told Interview magazine in 2008. The turning point came in 1975 when he founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A. with his partner Sergio Galeotti, launching menswear and womenswear collections that would revolutionise fashion.
Fashion critic Sara Forden captured his unique position: “Armani is unique. He’s the only designer in the world who has been able to combine real creative genius with a tremendously astute business sense.”
Revolutionising Power Dressing
Armani’s impact on fashion was seismic. He deconstructed the rigid suit, creating soft, unstructured jackets that offered comfort without sacrificing elegance. His breakthrough came with the 1980 film “American Gigolo,” where Richard Gere’s Armani-clad character introduced the world to a new vision of masculine elegance.
I liberated men and women from many constrictions, turning into the sartorial companion of an epochal change,” Armani reflected. His philosophy was clear: “Elegance is not about being noticed; it’s about being remembered.”
The designer’s influence extended far beyond menswear. He pioneered power dressing for women in the 1980s, creating pantsuits that became synonymous with female empowerment in the workplace. Fashion editor Maetha J. Nelson praised him as “The designer who showed women they could dress for the office without looking like men.
Hollywood’s Favourite Designer
Armani understood the power of celebrity before it became industry standard. His strategic Hollywood partnerships transformed red carpet fashion, with stars from Julia Roberts to George Clooney becoming brand ambassadors.
Julia Roberts, a longtime friend and muse, shared intimate memories: “Giorgio Armani is a true friend. His kindness has come into my life in many shapes and sizes… whether it’s sharing his vacation home in Italy with me and Danny for our first anniversary or spending the afternoon playing with my daughter and her favourite rag doll.
Russell Crowe recounted a memorable collaboration: “One magical night in Rome, we sat together… Giorgio produced a sketch of something he thought I might like to wear to the Academy Awards. Without really thinking, I took the pad and a pen and made adjustments.” While others looked shocked, Armani graciously studied the changes and incorporated them.
Film director Martin Scorsese praised Armani’s timeless appeal: “There’s never anything hip or chic or tied to the moment in Giorgio’s work – it’s truly timeless.”
Building a £9 Billion Empire
Armani’s business acumen matched his creative genius. By 2025, the Armani Group operated over 500 stores worldwide with annual revenues exceeding €2.3 billion. The empire encompassed multiple brands targeting different market segments: Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, and the haute couture line Armani Privé.
His philosophy on independence was unwavering. “I don’t have a formula to pass on. I always did it my own way. Even today, I hold my independence close. It’s what’s most precious to me. Passion. Risk. Tenacity. Consistency. This is my professional history,” he stated.
The designer’s approach to business was deeply personal. “Think how liberating it is for a designer to make one dress, perfectly, to satisfy only one customer,” he said of his haute couture line launched in 2005.
Leadership Lessons for Fashion’s Future
Armani’s leadership style offers crucial lessons for the next generation of fashion executives facing an industry in flux. His approach combined creative vision with operational excellence, maintaining complete control while building a global empire.
“To create something exceptional, your mindset must be relentlessly focused on the smallest detail,” Armani insisted. This perfectionism extended to every aspect of his business, from design to retail experience.
Industry analyst Tim Blanks noted Armani’s unique position: “I can think of maybe five people in fashion who had the impact he had.” His ability to remain independent while competing with conglomerate-backed rivals demonstrated exceptional business strategy.
The Succession Challenge
Perhaps Armani’s greatest challenge was succession planning. With no children and few close confidants outside his company, the designer spent his final years carefully orchestrating the brand’s future. In 2016, he established the Giorgio Armani Foundation to “safeguard the governance assets of the Armani Group and ensure that these assets are kept stable over time.”
His succession plan, revealed in recent interviews, involved “gradually transferring the responsibilities I have always assumed to my close associates, such as Leo Dell’Orco, members of my family, and the entire team.” Key figures include his niece Roberta Armani, sister Rosanna, and longtime collaborators Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco.
The designer was adamant about maintaining continuity: “I would like the succession to be organic and not a moment of rupture.” Documents reviewed by Reuters revealed detailed bylaws governing how heirs should approach potential stock listings and mergers, ensuring his vision would endure.
Fashion’s Future Without Its Emperor
As luxury fashion grapples with changing consumer preferences, economic headwinds, and questions about value, Armani’s death removes one of the industry’s last connections to its golden age. His approach – combining timeless design with astute business sense – offers a template for brands struggling to balance creativity with commercial demands.
“What I really dislike is the fact that today fashion is mostly about entertainment and communication, sometimes to the detriment of the product,” Armani observed. His focus on quality over trends seems prescient as brands face criticism over price inflation without corresponding innovation.
The designer’s philosophy remains relevant: “This is very much my philosophy as a fashion designer. I have never believed in design for design’s sake. For me, the most important thing is that people actually wear my clothes.”
A Lasting Legacy
Giorgio Armani leaves behind more than a fashion empire. He created a new language of luxury – one that prioritised elegance over ostentation, quality over quantity, and timelessness over trends. His famous quote encapsulates this philosophy: “The difference between style and fashion is quality.”
In his final interview, Armani reflected on his legacy: “The mark I hope to leave is one of commitment, respect and genuine care for people and for reality. That’s where everything truly begins.”
Fashion consultant Luca Solca of Bernstein noted the necessity of creative renewal in luxury: “Prices have gone up a lot — especially in soft luxury. If consumers need to spend more, it has to be at least for something new and exciting.” Armani understood this balance between heritage and innovation better than most.
The Final Collection
Armani’s absence from June’s Milan Fashion Week – the first time he’d missed his own show – foreshadowed Thursday’s announcement. The company stated he was “currently recovering at home” without elaborating. Despite his failing health, sources confirm he continued working on the Spring/Summer 2026 collection until his final days.
The fashion world now awaits details of memorial arrangements. The Armani Group announced that while the funeral will be private, respecting the designer’s wishes, his casket will be available for public viewing on 6 and 7 September at the company’s Milan headquarters on Via Bergognone.
A series of celebrations for Armani’s 50th anniversary, planned for Milan Fashion Week later this month, will likely transform into tributes to fashion’s last independent emperor. The question remains: can the empire he built with such singular vision survive without its creator?
As Armani himself philosophised: “Doing things according to what you — and not the others — think, is always radical.” In an industry increasingly dominated by corporate conglomerates and rapid trend cycles, Giorgio Armani’s radical independence and timeless vision stand as his greatest legacy.
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Image Credit:
Giorgio Armani (1997) — photo by GianAngelo Pistoia, CC BY-SA 4.0 commons.wikimedia.org
