MILAN — Giorgio Armani, the Italian designer who transformed fashion with his understated elegance and timeless vision of beauty, has died at the age of 91, his company confirmed Thursday.
Armani, born in 1934 in Piacenza, Italy, launched his fashion house in 1975 and rose to global fame with his signature unstructured suits and minimalist designs. His approach reshaped the way men and women dressed, introducing a sleek sophistication that came to define both boardrooms and Hollywood red carpets.
Though he never married and had no children, Armani's legacy is closely tied to his family and the foundation he created to protect his life's work. Armani remained devoted to his younger sister, Rosanna, and his two nieces, Silvana and Roberta, who each contributed to the brand in meaningful ways. Silvana has long worked within the design team, while Roberta has become one of the company's most visible faces, building ties with celebrities and serving as its global ambassador.
In 2016, Armani established the Giorgio Armani Foundation, a move designed to safeguard his company's independence and ensure it would not fall into the hands of global fashion conglomerates. The foundation will manage the future of the €2.3 billion brand, keeping Armani's creative vision intact while supporting philanthropic projects.
Armani's influence was not only about clothing. He expanded into fragrance, beauty, home décor and even hospitality, bringing his signature aesthetic into every aspect of lifestyle. Beauty lovers know Armani as the force behind best-selling products like Luminous Silk Foundation and Armani Si fragrance, staples in the global luxury beauty market.
Tributes poured in from across the fashion and beauty industries, celebrating Armani as a pioneer of "quiet luxury" whose legacy will endure in every perfectly cut suit, every fragrance bottle, and every red carpet moment he helped create.
Armani is survived by his sister Rosanna, his nieces Silvana and Roberta, and the Giorgio Armani Foundation, which now carries the responsibility of preserving one of fashion's most influential legacies.
