Giorgio Armani, Italian Fashion Designer, Dies at 91
According to CinemaDrame News Agency, Giorgio Armani, the Italian fashion and clothing designer, passed away this Thursday at the age of 91 after a short illness. Concerns about his health had grown after he was absent from Milan Fashion Week in June.
Armani was born on July 11, 1934, into a middle-class family in Piacenza, Italy, and moved to Milan in 1949. He initially pursued medicine, but his studies were cut short by mandatory military service. He was later hired as a window dresser at a Milan department store, and before long, an introduction to designer Nino Cerruti and then to Sergio Galeotti led to the founding of the Armani fashion house in 1975.
Armani designed costumes for Richard Gere in the 1980 classic American Gigolo and for more than 30 other films, including The Untouchables, Cate Blanchett’s costumes in Truth, and Jodie Foster’s wardrobe in Elysium.
Jodie Foster was among the first Hollywood stars to wear Armani on the red carpet, followed in later years by Julia Roberts, Jessica Chastain, Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert De Niro, and Sophia Loren.
The Armani Group is valued at over $10 billion and directly employs 10,500 people. Its products span clothing, eyewear, watches, jewelry, interior design, perfumes, and more.
Following Armani’s passing, the Venice Film Festival issued a statement calling him an “Italian genius of fashion.” Armani had a close bond with the festival and was one of its sponsors.
In 1990, Armani walked the red carpet at the premiere of the biographical documentary Made in Milan, directed by Martin Scorsese.
This year, stars including Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Shailene Woodley, and Cate Blanchett appeared at the Venice Film Festival wearing Armani.
Armani never married and had no children.
