The Italian designer died in Milan.
Giorgio Armani, one of the most influential Italian fashion figures of the late twentieth century and a pioneer of the celebrity–fashion connection, has died in Milan. He was 91. He was born in Piacenza on July 11, 1934.
“For five decades, Armani, a one-time window dresser turned self-made industrialist, towered over the Milanese fashion world as he crafted a multibillion-dollar empire of luxury apparel, accessories, fragrances, makeup, furniture, hotels and restaurants.” His stripped-down, softly structured tailoring was widely credited with redefining the working wardrobe for men and women in the 1980s. His early, deliberate ties to Hollywood made him a household name in the United States long before many peers embraced the red carpet. In time, his command of Milanese style earned him the nickname “Re Giorgio,” or “King Giorgio.”
“In this company, we have always felt like part of a family,” his employees and his family stated on Thursday. “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 to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility and love.”
A funeral chamber will be set up from Saturday to Sunday, open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Milan at Via Bergognone 59, inside the Armani/Teatro. In accordance with Mr. Armani’s wishes, the funeral will be held privately.
On June 20, ahead of the Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani menswear spring 2026 shows, the company said the designer would not take his final bow and was “currently recovering at home,” and that Leo Dell’Orco, head of menswear design, would step out at the end of the shows in his place.
For half a century, Armani defined a city’s look and reshaped the modern suit, building a global enterprise that reached far beyond the runway into fragrance, beauty, interiors, hospitality, and dining. The silhouette remained unmistakable, the impact enduring.
