Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91, his fashion house announced on Thursday.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the company said in a statement.
Armani, widely regarded as a leading figure in modern Italian fashion, combined design flair with business acumen, building a company that generated an annual turnover of around 2.3 billion euros (£2 billion).
He had been unwell in recent months and was forced to withdraw from his group’s shows at Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week in June, marking the first time in his career that he had missed one of his catwalk presentations.
The designer had also been planning a major event to mark 50 years of his Giorgio Armani fashion house during Milan Fashion Week this month.
Known in Italy as “Re Giorgio” – King Giorgio – he was recognised for his close involvement in every aspect of his collections and his business operations, from advertising campaigns to overseeing the styling of models before they appeared on the runway.
The Armani Group said a funeral chamber would be set up in Milan on Saturday and Sunday, with a private funeral to follow at a later date.
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