Giorgio Armani facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Giorgio Armani
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Armani in 2009
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| Born | 11 July 1934 Piacenza, Italy
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| Alma mater | University of Milan |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Giorgio Armani (born July 11, 1934) is a famous Italian fashion designer and billionaire. He is known for creating his company, Armani, in 1975. His brand grew to include not just clothes, but also music, sports, and luxury hotels.
By 2001, Armani was known as the most successful Italian designer. He is also famous for starting the trend of "red-carpet fashion," where celebrities wear designer clothes to big events.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Giorgio Armani was born in the town of Piacenza, Italy. His father, Ugo Armani, was an accountant, and his mother was Maria Raimondi. He grew up with an older brother, Sergio, and a younger sister, Rosanna.
In high school, Armani wanted to become a doctor. He went to the University of Milan to study medicine. However, after three years, he left college in 1953 to join the Italian Army. Because he had studied medicine, he was sent to work at a Military Hospital in Verona. After his time in the army, he decided to find a new career path.
Building a Fashion Empire
Starting Out
After leaving the army, Armani got a job in 1957 as a window dresser at La Rinascente, a big department store in Milan. He later became a salesperson in the menswear department. This job gave him great experience in how the fashion business works.
In the mid-1960s, Armani began working for the Nino Cerruti company, where he designed clothes for men. He was very talented, so he also worked as a freelance designer for up to ten other companies at the same time.
Launching His Own Brand
In the late 1960s, Armani met Sergio Galeotti, who became a close friend and professional partner. In 1973, Galeotti encouraged Armani to open his own design office in Milan.
On July 24, 1975, Armani and Galeotti started their own company, Giorgio Armani S.p.A. In October of that year, he showed his first collection of men's clothing for the spring and summer of 1976. He also created a women's clothing line for the same season.
Expanding the Armani World
In 1979, Armani began selling his designs in the United States. He soon launched several new product lines. These included G. A. Le Collezioni, Giorgio Armani Underwear and Swimwear, and Giorgio Armani Accessories.
In the early 1980s, he created more lines like Armani Junior, Armani Jeans, and Emporio Armani. The Emporio Armani line offered clothes with the same great style as his main collection but at a lower price. This made his designs available to more people, especially younger customers. To advertise these new lines, he used TV commercials and huge ads on the sides of buildings.
He also created A/X Armani Exchange in 1991. This brand was aimed at the American market and offered casual, stylish clothes at even more affordable prices.
Armani in Movies and Music
Armani believed that working with the movie industry was important. In 1980, he designed the costumes for actor Richard Gere in a popular film. Seeing a famous actor wear his clothes on screen helped make the Armani brand a household name. He went on to design costumes for over 100 movies, including the 1987 film The Untouchables.
Armani also worked with famous musicians. His longtime friend, guitarist Eric Clapton, wrote music for his fashion shows. Armani has also designed stage outfits for pop superstar Lady Gaga.
Major Achievements and Innovations
Armani is known for several important ideas that changed the fashion world.
Red-Carpet Fashion
Armani is often called the pioneer of red-carpet fashion. He was one of the first designers to dress major celebrities for award shows and movie premieres. This turned the red carpet into a major fashion event.
A New Look for Models
Armani was the first major designer to ban models with a body mass index (BMI) under 18 from his shows. He did this to promote a healthier image for models in the fashion industry.
Fashion in the Digital Age
On January 24, 2007, Armani became the first designer in the world of high fashion (haute couture) to broadcast his fashion show live on the internet. This allowed people all over the world to see his new collection at the same time as the people at the show.
Beyond Fashion
Armani's interests go far beyond just clothing. He has expanded his brand into hotels, sports, and music.
Armani Hotels
In 2005, Armani partnered with a property company to build and run luxury hotels and resorts under his name. He is in charge of the interior design and style for all of them. The first Armani Hotel opened in 2010 in the famous Burj Khalifa skyscraper in Dubai.
Armani and Sports
Giorgio Armani is a big sports fan. He is the president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team. He has also designed suits for the England national football team and the London club Chelsea.
He designed the uniforms for the Italian Olympic teams for the 2006 Winter Olympics and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2021, his brand became an official sponsor for the Scuderia Ferrari Formula One racing team, providing their official outfits.
Personal Life
Armani is a very private person. He had a long and close relationship with his business partner, Sergio Galeotti, who passed away in 1985. Armani continued to grow the company on his own after his friend's death. He enjoys sailing on his large yacht.
Honours and awards
- 1983: Named Best International Designer by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA)
- 1987: Received a Lifetime Achievement Award for menswear from the CFDA
- 2014: Compasso d'Oro Career Award
- 2021: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic, one of Italy's highest honors
See also
- List of fashion designers
- Italian fashion
Images for kids
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Giorgio Armani Honor at the Walk of Style, Beverly Hills
