Giorgio Armani, who was the legendary Italian fashion designer, has died at the age of 91. He was the founder of the famous luxury brand Armani. He was one of the most influential figures in the fashion industry. He started his work in fashion with Cerruti 1881 fashion house for which he gained wide recognition. After that he started his own fashion label in 1975.
He was widely known for his fashion designs which he kept minimalist and deconstructed. Armani played an important role in influencing the fashion style of celebrities, specifically the red carpet fashion. He became the most successful fashion designer in the year 2000. His fashion label ultimately expanded into music, sports and even luxury hotels.
Giorgio Armani who was born in the year 1934 on 11th of July in Piacenza city lived in poverty. His father Ugo Armani was an accountant for a transport company and his mother was Maria Raiondi. He was severely burned in his childhood when an artillery shell which he was playing with was denoted. It also killed one of his close friends. In his secondary School days at Liceo Scientifico Leonardo da Vinci in Milan he wanted to excel and have a career in medicine. This dream of having a profession in medicine was influenced by AJ Cornin’s novel The Citadel. For this he even enrolled himself in the department of medicine at the University of Milan. After attending this university for 3 years in 1953 he left to join the army. Due to a background in medicine he was assigned to a military hospital.
In 1975 Giorgio Armani founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A with his architect partner Sergio Galeotti. Armani previously worked as a window dresser and had a new idea for a design which was different from the traditional suit he created. This new style was casual, elegant and easy to carry. In 1980 Armani designed a costume for Richard Gare in the film American Gigolo which became iconic. This incident made him known in Hollywood and he quickly gained international recognition. Armani is also known for being the man behind popular power suits for women which are now a symbol of women empowerment. Soon Armani expanded his business by creating sub brands for different markets which includes Emporio Armani, Armani jeans and Armani Exchange which includes beauty, watches, cosmetic etc
Armani’s soft construction of design and style broke the traditional fashion giving a new less restrictive and more fluid style to the world. He also adapted to modern clothing for women by using traditionally used men’s fabric for clothing for women which helped in empowering women in the 80s. His iconic power suits for women gave women confidence in the business world. His creations also influenced the Hollywood platform and red carpet looks. This began when he designed costumes for Richard Gere in the movie American Gigolo. Due to his fame in Hollywood and growing global influence in the 90s even Oscars were being dubbed as Armani awards. His strategic Hollywood presence in dressing celebrities made his bread iconic in the global fashion industry.
Armani’s all luxury brands which not only expanded in the fashion industry but also went to excel in accessories, beauty, and sports. His business empire that he created is worth over 12 million dollars. His Armani brand that he established in 1975 with his brand partners to achieve global recognition which redefined the old traditional style of tailoring and making waves for new and timeless elegance. The value of Armani’s personal wealth and his company’s value were over 9 to 12 million dollars at the time of his death. Before his death Armani also founded a foundation for independent governance of his company. His sister and her children are now expected to take care and manage his brand. After his death his company was announced to hold Armani’s values of independence.
Giorgio Armani went on to receive many awards and nominations in the fashion world and career for his innovative designs. His list of awards include the Neiman Marcus award, CFDA’s lifetime achievement award for his men’s collection, Officer of the legion honour by France, Italy’s Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit and the Outstanding Achievement Award at the fashion awards. He also gained recognition from PETA for elimination of angora wool in his clothing and was honoured by the financial times as a diversity leader.
Giorgio Armani is one of the most influential figures in the modern fashion industry. His famous approach to clean lines and timeless designs has received the way the world would look at fashion. His brand will continue to inspire designers and give lessons on how a brand is built and trends are set. His influence on fashion has also set a new example for luxury standards.
People had deep admiration for and respect for Giorgio Armani in the fashion and celebrity world. He was shown these affection and love as Julia Roberts and Anna Wintour gave him tributes. Famous figure Ralph Lauren praised him for his unique vision and style. This was all due to his dedication to fashion and hard work in maintaining his brand’s independence.
The fashion industry and global media are now mourning Giorgio Armani’s death. Paying tributes and highlighting his legacy of creating timeless pieces, minimalist suits and having a vision for business leadership, famous figures like Suzy Menkes and Donatella Versace are calling him Maestro and a giant in the fashion world. Celebrities and World leaders are now offering their condolences and recognising his impact on modern culture. Armani was not only a fashion revolutionary but also a visionary in entrepreneurship who built a fashion Empire which also expanded into beauty, lifestyle and transformed the concept of luxury. His influence on how people dress has set new standards for the celebrities on red carpets making a global impact on culture.
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