Poonam Nath

Italian fashion coup Giorgio Armani passes away at 91

Digital Desk: The Italian designer Giorgio Armani, who built a multibillion-dollar fashion empire around the idea of subtle elegance, passed away at the age of 91.

According to a statement released by his company on Thursday, Armani passed away in Milan, in northern Italy.

Armani was born to Ugo Armani and Maria Raimond in 1934 in Piacenza, heartland of northern Italy, close to Milan.

"The Armani Group announces with deep sadness the passing of Giorgio Armani, its founder, creator, and unwavering inspiration," the statement stated.

This month, during Milan Fashion Week, he planned to organise a significant celebration to mark the 50th anniversary of his iconic Giorgio Armani fashion house.

The late 1970s saw Armani introduce Italian ready-to-wear fashion to the world, launching the fashion house for the next fifty years.

Armani dressed the rich and famous in timeless tailored styles, crafted in incredibly soft fabrics and subdued hues, for everything from the executive office to the Hollywood screen.

According to Forbes, Armani was one of the top 200 billionaires in the world at the time of his death, having built an empire worth over $10 billion that included books, flowers, accessories, home furnishings, cosmetics, perfumes, and even chocolates.

Building up ARMANI

It all started with Armani and his partner, Sergio Galeotti launching their own menswear ready-to-wear brand, Armani and Sergio sold their Volkswagen for $10,000 in 1975. A year later came womenswear.

The liningless sports jacket, introduced in the late 1970s and immediately popular from Hollywood to Wall Street, was emblematic of Armani's new fashion. The designer referred to the jacket and a basic T-shirt as "the alpha and omega of the fashion alphabet".

Soon, the wealthy man's closet had to have the Armani suit. Additionally, the pantsuit's debut in the executive office was practically revolutionary for women.

Armani’s name includes, along with his own basketball team, EA7 Emporio Armani Milan, also known as Olimpia Milano, the designer also owned a number of bars, clubs, and restaurant.