The world of fashion is in mourning following the death of Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian designer whose name became synonymous with elegance, innovation, and the very spirit of "Made in Italy." Armani died on Thursday, September 4, 2025, at the age of 91, as confirmed by the Armani Group. Though the official cause of death has not been disclosed, it was widely known that his health had been in decline for some time. In June 2025, for the first time ever, he was forced to miss his group’s shows at Milan Men’s Fashion Week, a poignant signal of his waning strength.
Just days before his passing, Armani sat down with The Financial Times and made a rare, candid admission about his life. “I don’t know if I’d use the word workaholic, but hard work is certainly essential to success. My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family,” he reflected. Despite his towering achievements, this deeply human regret resonated with many who admired him for his relentless drive and perfectionism.
Armani’s influence stretched far beyond the catwalk. Over a career that spanned half a century, he dressed Hollywood royalty—Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga, and Cindy Crawford, to name just a few. Crawford, who famously wore a navy Armani suit when she eloped with Richard Gere in 1991, wrote on Instagram, “Heartbroken to hear about the passing of a legend, Giorgio Armani. A true master of his craft.”
His death sent shockwaves through the global fashion industry. Carlo Capasa, president of the Camera Nazionale della Moda Italiana, stated, “Giorgio Armani shaped contemporary fashion by redefining its boundaries and creating a lifestyle concept that is recognized and admired worldwide, establishing Made in Italy as a true symbol of excellence.” Capasa also praised Armani’s role as a founder of Milan Fashion Week and his generous support for young designers and cultural initiatives.
Industry giants lined up to pay tribute. The LVMH Group described Armani as “the last of the post-war, golden generation of fashion designers who shaped, year after year, the paragons of highest elegance.” Bernard Arnault, chairman and CEO of LVMH, said, “He created a unique style, combining light and shadow, that he developed into a large and successful entrepreneurial journey and extended Italian elegance to a global scale.” François-Henri Pinault of Kering called him “a remarkable visionary and entrepreneur,” and Pietro Beccari of Louis Vuitton lauded his “impact on elegance and class [that] changed the course of luxury forever.”
Armani’s legacy is not just in the clothing that bears his name, but in the doors he opened for others. He nurtured young talents, including Stefano Pilati, and inspired designers like Alexandre Mattiussi and Simon Porte Jacquemus. Anna Wintour, chief content officer of Condé Nast and global editorial director of American Vogue, said, “He understood power and attitude and elegance as well as anyone ever has in fashion, and he understood women too: how they wanted to dress and what message they wanted to send as they asserted themselves through his rise in the ’70s, ’80s, and beyond.”
His company, which he founded in 1975, grew into a vast empire encompassing Emporio Armani, Armani Exchange, haute couture, hotels, restaurants, cosmetics, and homeware. At the time of his death, Armani was the sole shareholder and chief executive, and his fortune was estimated at $12.1 billion. The Armani Group, in its statement, described itself as “a reflection of this spirit” and pledged to uphold the values he instilled.
Tributes poured in from every corner of the fashion world and beyond. Valentino Garavani and Giancarlo Giammetti mourned “someone we have always considered a friend, never a rival,” while Donatella Versace called him “a true genius and a master of class and elegance.” Ralph Lauren expressed admiration for Armani’s humility and love of life, noting, “He created a world reflecting all the things he loved with a foreverness that will be his legacy.”
Designers and executives alike recalled Armani’s exacting standards and meticulous attention to detail. Joanne Yulan Jong, who worked closely with him, remembered, “He taught me, and everyone he hired, to aim extraordinarily high, to pay obsessive attention to detail, and to never settle for less than the best.” Such discipline, paired with his creative genius, set him apart as a titan of the industry.
Armani’s impact was not limited to designers. Retailers such as Michael Gould, former chairman and CEO of Bloomingdale’s, and Gene Pressman, former co-CEO of Barneys New York, spoke of his role in transforming the business of fashion. “He was so creative and brilliant… Waiting for his next show in Milan was like waiting for the next Beatles album to come out,” Pressman recalled. Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman highlighted Armani’s “passion for style and timelessness,” while Marc Metrick of Saks Global Operating Group remembered Armani as “a trailblazing force for quality craftsmanship and refined tailoring.”
Celebrities from Richard Gere to Michelle Pfeiffer and Martin Scorsese shared personal memories, underscoring the breadth of Armani’s influence. Gere described him as “an artist. A visionary of sorts. With the eyes and hand of a craftsman, and the soul of a painter.” Scorsese, who collaborated with Armani on film projects, said, “There’s nothing hip or tied to the moment in Giorgio’s designs. They’re genuinely elegant, inside and out.”
Despite his unmatched professional achievements, Armani was forthright about the sacrifices he made. In a 2020 interview with The Guardian, he admitted, “I’m scared of loneliness… If I were to relive my life, I would strive to spend more time with friends and family.” In his final interview, he outlined plans for a gradual, organic transition of leadership within his company, emphasizing continuity over rupture: “My plans for succession consist of a gradual transition of the responsibilities that I have always handled to those closest to me, such as Leo Dell’Orco, the members of my family and the entire working team. I would like the succession to be organic and not a moment of rupture.”
In Milan, a funeral chamber will be opened on Saturday and Sunday, with a private service to follow. The city Armani loved—and supported so generously—will have a chance to say goodbye to its “Re Giorgio,” or King Giorgio, as he was affectionately known in Italy.
As the tributes continue to pour in, one thing is certain: Giorgio Armani’s vision, discipline, and humanity have left an indelible mark on fashion and culture. His legacy, built on elegance and authenticity, will inspire generations to come.
