A global fashion icon, Giorgio Armani has passed away at 91, leaving behind a legacy of elegance, vision and reinvention.
Giorgio Armani, one of the most influential designers of the last century, has died aged 91. The Italian creator not only transformed menswear and womenswear with his sober, refined and powerful vision, but also built an empire that spans from catwalks to luxury hotels, music, sport and fragrance. In a statement on the brand’s official Instagram page, it was revealed that he “worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections and the many ongoing future projects.”
Founder of his eponymous house in 1975 alongside his partner and business collaborator Sergio Galeotti, Armani managed to interpret the spirit of his time without surrendering to fleeting trends. As Vogue once put it, “If you don’t know anything about fashion, you still know Giorgio Armani.” His name became synonymous with timeless elegance.
He elevated the power of the suit for working women in the 1980s and relaxed the codes of menswear with a deconstructed approach that remains influential today. As critic Alexander Fury summarised, “He dressed women in uniforms as radical as Chanel’s, and dismantled the male suit with revolutionary subtlety.”
His impact on cinema and the red carpet was equally profound. From ‘American Gigolo’ to ‘The Wolf of Wall Street’, and with designs worn by stars such as Zendaya, Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga and Julia Roberts, Armani understood fashion’s narrative power.
He was also a pioneer in social responsibility. In 2006, after the death of model Ana Carolina Reston from anorexia, he became the first designer to ban excessively thin models from his catwalks. His ethical stance left a mark on an industry often criticised for its excesses.
Despite some controversies —such as his 2015 remarks on gay representation or a 2014 tax investigation later settled— his legacy transcends any missteps. He was awarded the French Légion d’honneur and Italy’s Order of Merit for Labour, remaining an undisputed reference at fashion weeks until July 2025, when he directed his final haute couture presentation from his home in Milan.
A passionate sports enthusiast, Armani owned basketball team Olimpia Milano and was a devoted supporter of Inter Milan. Yet his true calling was always to dress others with humanity and precision. As he said during his last show: “I wanted to imagine a new harmony, because that is what we all need.”
The industry has lost a titan, but his legacy endures – in every perfectly cut suit, every silhouette that empowers without constraining, every gesture of style that does not shout but leaves a lasting mark.
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