Italian designer Giorgio Armani dies at 91

Italian designer Giorgio Armani died this Thursday at the age of 91 "surrounded by his loved ones," the company announced in a statement. "We feel the void left by the man who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani , are committed to protecting what he built and to carrying on his company in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love," it continues.

The Armani Group has announced the death of its founder, creator, and driving force: "Il Signor Armani," as he was always known. In recent months, Armani reportedly faced health issues that led him to miss his fashion shows in Milan and Paris for the first time, directing some of them remotely. The luxury brand was currently preparing to commemorate its 50th anniversary with a series of celebrations during Milan Fashion Week .

Giorgio Armani was founded in Milan on July 24, 1975. Over the years, the designer has forged a vision that extends from fashion to all aspects of life, anticipating changing times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism. The funeral will take place this coming weekend at the Armani/Teatro located at Via Bergognone 59 (Milan) and will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. In accordance with Mr. Armani's express wishes, the funeral will be held privately.

Armani was born in Piacenza, Italy, on July 11, 1934. His passion for anatomy led him to study medicine at the University of Milan, although he did not complete his studies. After completing his military service and working as a window dresser at La Rinascente , he began to develop his career as a menswear designer, first for Nino Cerrutti and later on his own.

In 1974, his first collection arrived, which he would show to the public in a Milanese café, and a year later he launched his womenswear line. Convinced that ethics and aesthetics must coincide, Giorgio has always expressed enduring and fundamental values ​​through style. He has done so by creating timeless objects , whose pure and essential design, enhanced by precious materials and craftsmanship, frees them from the fleeting nature of passing fads. Garments that favor a fluidity that is both a soft construction and a natural and progressive fusion of masculine and feminine codes, "to convey a mysterious and personal femininity, and a soft and self-aware masculinity," as the brand itself explains.

In a sector dominated by large luxury groups, the Armani brand remains the sole shareholder of a house that currently has more than 500 boutiques worldwide. "I believe that fashion can contribute to continuous renewal by adapting to people's real needs, while respecting the common goods that must be protected: the social fabric and the environment," stated Giorgio Armani himself.