Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian fashion designer whose name became synonymous with understated elegance and global luxury, died on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the age of 91. The announcement, made by his company, sent ripples through the fashion world and beyond, marking the end of an era for both Milan and international style. "With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani," read the statement shared on social media. "Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by his employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects."
Armani’s death came just weeks before the 50th anniversary celebrations of his namesake fashion house, which he founded in Milan in 1975 with his partner Sergio Galeotti. According to WWD, the milestone was to be marked with a fashion show and party on September 28, 2025, in Milan, and a major exhibition at the Pinacoteca di Brera Museum showcasing 150 archival looks from five decades of design. The city of Milan, recognizing Armani’s deep connection to its identity, declared Monday, September 8, a day of mourning in his honor.
Born July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, Armani’s journey to fashion stardom was anything but conventional. He initially moved to Milan in 1950 to study medicine but soon found his calling in fashion, starting as an assistant buyer at La Rinascente, Milan’s top department store. His early design experience came at Hitman, Nino Cerruti’s men’s clothing line, before he and Galeotti opened their own studio in 1972. With just $10,000, they launched Giorgio Armani SpA in 1975, quickly building a formidable label known for both men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collections.
Armani revolutionized fashion with his less-is-more approach, favoring deconstructed suits in fluid fabrics and a muted palette—so much so that the word "greige" was coined to describe his signature blend of gray and beige. As Financial Times reported in Armani's final interview, he saw his greatest strength as his "ability to believe in my ideas and the determination – sometimes the stubbornness – to carry them through." Yet, he also admitted, "My greatest weakness is that I am in control of everything." His meticulous attention to detail and reputation as a "control freak" became legendary, with tales of his hands-on management style recounted by colleagues and journalists alike.
It was not just the runways that bore the Armani stamp. Hollywood embraced his designs, with stars like Richard Gere donning Armani in "American Gigolo," and his creations appearing in films such as "The Wolf of Wall Street" and "Goodfellas." Armani became the go-to designer for celebrities on the Oscars red carpet, and his client list included luminaries from Sophia Loren to George Clooney. "Only I know what I want and my message has to be consistent from beginning to end," he told WWD in 2005, underscoring his unwavering vision.
Over the decades, Armani expanded his brand into a global empire, encompassing everything from fragrances and cosmetics—licensed to L’Oréal and renewed through 2050—to hotels, restaurants, and even sports. The company closed 2024 with net revenues of 2.3 billion euros, and Armani continued to invest heavily in new projects, channeling 332 million euros in 2024 alone into ventures in New York, Paris, and Milan. His EA7 Emporio Armani line outfitted Italy’s Olympic and Paralympic teams, and he owned the Olimpia Milano basketball team, further cementing his influence on Italian culture.
Despite his immense success, Armani remained deeply private and loyal to his roots. His Milan apartment was filled with personal memorabilia, including a cherished portrait of his mother, Maria, who played a significant role in shaping his aesthetic. Armani’s family and close collaborators—such as his nephew Andrea Camerana, Roberta Armani, and Leo Dell’Orco, head of menswear—were integral to his company’s operations. In his final years, Armani was absent from several key fashion shows due to illness, with Dell’Orco stepping in to take the final bow, a sign of the gradual transition Armani envisioned for his legacy.
Succession had long been a topic of speculation, but Armani addressed it with characteristic foresight. In 2016, he established the Giorgio Armani Foundation, designed to fund social projects and ensure the group’s autonomy and longevity. "The foundation will also safeguard the governance assets of the Armani Group and ensure that these assets are kept stable over time, in respect of and consistent with some principles that are particularly important to me and that have always inspired my activities as a designer and an entrepreneur," he stated. These principles included autonomy, ethical management, innovation, and prudent financial stewardship. Armani was adamant about maintaining the company’s independence, resisting overtures from luxury conglomerates and investors over the years.
Yet, for all his professional accomplishments, Armani was candid about the personal sacrifices that came with his relentless drive. "My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family," he told the Financial Times. His relationship with Sergio Galeotti, who died in 1985 from complications of AIDS, was both a personal and professional partnership, and Galeotti’s loss was deeply felt by Armani and the company.
Armani’s impact extended far beyond fashion. He was a philanthropist, donating millions to Italian hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and converting his manufacturing sites to produce protective gear for healthcare workers. He was also a mentor, opening his Armani/Teatro to young designers and supporting new talent in the industry.
The designer’s death has left a void not just in the fashion world, but in the cultural and civic life of Milan and Italy. Yet, as his employees and family pledged, "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." The public will have an opportunity to pay their respects at the funeral chamber set up at the Armani/Teatro in Milan from September 6 to 7, with a private funeral to follow, in accordance with Armani’s wishes.
Giorgio Armani’s legacy is one of quiet revolution—a world of natural sophistication where nothing is over the top, but everything is imbued with personality. He once said, "I have in fact created a lifestyle that I would define as a world of natural sophistication, in which nothing is over the top but everything finds a balance that, while whispered, is rich in personality." As Milan and the world bid farewell to Il Signor Armani, his vision, values, and inimitable style will undoubtedly endure for generations to come.
