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 |
| Died | 4 September 2025 (aged 91) |
| Alma mater | University of Milan |
| Occupation | Fashion designer |
Giorgio Armani (11 July 1934 – 4 September 2025) was a famous Italian fashion designer and a very successful businessman. He created the company Armani in 1975. His brand grew to include music, sports, and luxury hotels. By 2001, Armani was known as the most successful Italian designer. He also helped start the trend of red-carpet fashion.
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Early Life and Dreams
Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, a town in northern Italy. His father, Ugo Armani, worked as an accountant. His mother was Maria Raimondi. He grew up with his older brother Sergio and younger sister Rosanna.
When he was in secondary school in Milan, Giorgio dreamed of becoming a doctor. He even studied medicine at the University of Milan for three years. However, in 1953, he left university and joined the Italian Army. Because of his medical studies, he worked at a military hospital in Verona. There, he enjoyed attending shows at the Verona Arena. Eventually, he decided to explore a different career path.
A Career in Fashion Design
After two years in the army, Armani started a new job in 1957. He worked as a window dresser and sales clerk at La Rinascente, a large department store in Milan. He helped display new Finnish clothing brands. Later, he became a seller in the men's clothing section. This job taught him a lot about how to market fashion.
In the mid-1960s, Armani began working for the Nino Cerruti company. He designed menswear there. His design skills were highly sought after. For the next ten years, he worked for Cerruti and also as a freelance designer. He created designs for many different manufacturers at the same time.
In the late 1960s, Armani met Sergio Galeotti, an architectural draftsman. They formed a strong professional partnership. In 1973, Galeotti encouraged Armani to open his own design office in Milan. Armani then worked as a freelance designer for several fashion houses. His work quickly gained international attention.
On 24 July 1975, Giorgio Armani founded his own company, Giorgio Armani S.p.A., in Milan. He started it with his friend and business partner, Galeotti. In October of that year, he showed his first collection of men's ready-to-wear clothing. He also created a women's line for the same season.
Italian manufacturers helped new designers like Armani. They funded production and marketing. They also paid designers a share of the profits. This allowed Armani to start his business without debt. He could create impressive fashion shows and advertising campaigns.
Armani also showed a strong interest in art. In 1990, he supported a New York exhibition. This show, called "Pier Paolo Pasolini: The Eyes of a Poet," featured twenty-two films. This showed Armani's deep appreciation for different forms of art.
In 1978, Armani made an important agreement with Gruppo Finanzario Tessile (GFT). This allowed his luxury ready-to-wear clothes to be made in factories. Armani closely supervised the quality. In 1979, he started Giorgio Armani Corporation. This helped him produce clothes for the United States market. He launched new product lines like G. A. Le Collezioni and Giorgio Armani Underwear.
In the early 1980s, Armani partnered with L'Oréal for perfumes and cosmetics. He also introduced new clothing lines. These included Armani Junior, Armani Jeans, and Emporio Armani. The Emporio line offered stylish clothes at more affordable prices. Armani used new advertising methods for Emporio. These included TV ads, large street posters, and a magazine sent to customers.
Armani believed that working with movies was very important. It helped promote his brand and gave him new ideas. He designed costumes for over one hundred films, including The Untouchables (1987).
In 1983, Armani updated his agreement with GFT. They began producing his high-end ready-to-wear line. This line was renamed Borgonuovo 21. In the late 1980s, Armani continued to expand his business. He opened Armani Japan and introduced eyeglasses in 1988. He also launched socks in 1987 and a gift collection in 1989. A new line for America, A/X Armani Exchange, started in 1991.
The 1990s saw rapid growth for the brand. Armani added sportswear, watches, and home furnishings. In 2000, the brand celebrated its twenty-fifth anniversary. Armani invested in new factories to control quality and distribution.
In 1995, Armani developed skiwear and casual ski clothes. His A/X: Armani Exchange project aimed at the American mass market. It offered stylish, relaxed clothes at lower prices.
His friend, musician Eric Clapton, composed music for Armani's fashion shows in 1996. Clapton also dressed in Armani clothes. Later that year, Clapton opened two Emporio Armani stores in New York City.
Armani found inspiration in different cultures. He used Japanese designs in some of his works. In 1998, he opened his first store in China. A small shop in Beijing was followed by a large store in Shanghai in 2004.
Armani's influence went beyond just clothes. His work often connected fashion with art. The Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York held an exhibition of Armani's work. This was the first time a living designer had such a show. It attracted many visitors, averaging 29,000 a week.
In 2008, Armani designed a special bullfighting costume. It was called the "Goyesco." Spanish bullfighter Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez wore it in Ronda, Spain.
Armani also supported sustainable fashion. In 2011, he was the first luxury designer to join the Green Carpet Challenge. He created designs from recycled plastics and fabrics. He made a dress for Livia Firth and a tuxedo for her then-husband, Colin Firth.
By 2009, Armani had a large retail network. This included 60 Giorgio Armani boutiques and 122 Emporio Armani stores. These were spread across 37 countries. By 2017, his company had a yearly income of $1.6 billion.
In 2015, Giorgio Armani participated in the Paris Photography Public Programme. His project, ACQUA #6, explored the theme of water in photography.
In 2019, Giorgio Armani launched his first fine jewelry collection. It was introduced during Haute Couture Week in Paris. His "Josephine" collection in 2022 featured paisley designs. Celebrities like Sophia Loren and Brie Larson have worn his jewelry.
Fashion Innovations
Giorgio Armani is famous for starting red-carpet fashion. He helped make it popular for celebrities to wear designer clothes to big events.
Armani was also a leader in promoting healthy body image. He was the first designer to set rules for models' health. He made sure models had a healthy body mass index (BMI) of 18 or higher. This was to protect models from unhealthy eating habits.
On 24 January 2007, Armani made history. He broadcast his fashion collection live on the Internet. This was a first for haute couture, which is high fashion. The show was also available on cell phones.
Armani designed many stage outfits for pop superstar Lady Gaga. These included costumes for her famous Monster Ball Tour. He also created looks for major award shows.
Armani Hotels
In 2005, Giorgio Armani partnered with Emaar Properties PJSC. They agreed to build and run luxury hotels and resorts. Giorgio Armani personally oversaw the interior design and style of these hotels.
The first Armani Hotel opened in the Burj Khalifa in Dubai on 27 April 2010. It occupies the bottom 39 floors of this very tall skyscraper. The hotel has 160 guest rooms and suites. Armani also designed the interiors of the Armani Residences in the same building.
Music Projects
Armani Musica creates special music compilations. These are called Emporio Armani Caffè compilations. Giorgio Armani and DJ-sound designer Matteo Ceccarini curated these CDs. They offer a mix of unique sounds and rhythms.
Sports Connections
Giorgio Armani had a strong interest in sports. He was the president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team. He was also a fan of the Inter Milan football club.
Armani designed suits for the England national football team twice. He also created suits for players of the London club Chelsea since 2007.
He designed the outfits for Italy's flag bearers at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin. He also designed Italy's Olympic uniforms for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Armani created the EA7 range, a brand inspired by Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko. Shevchenko played for A.C. Milan and wore the number 7 jersey.
In 2021, Giorgio Armani began a partnership with Scuderia Ferrari. He became an official supplier to the famous racing team. Armani provided official and travel outfits for the team members.
Personal Life
Giorgio Armani was a very private person. He had a close professional partnership with Sergio Galeotti. Galeotti was also a fashion designer and helped Armani start his company. Galeotti passed away in 1985. Armani had relatives in the United States. He enjoyed spending time on his yacht and loved sailing.
Awards and Honors
- 1979 Neiman Marcus Award for Distinguished Service in the Field of Fashion
- 1983 Honored by the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) as best international designer
- 1987 Lifetime Achievement Award for menswear by CFDA
- 2014 Compasso d'Oro Career Award
- 2021
Italy: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic (14 July 2021)
See Also
In Spanish: Giorgio Armani para niños
- List of fashion designers
- Italian fashion
