Designer created iconic looks for cinema and built a global empire
Who was Giorgio Armani?
Encouraged by his partner, Sergio Galeotti — who passed away in 1985 — Giorgio Armani founded the brand that bears his name on July 24, 1975, just days after turning 41. A late start by fashion standards, but one that would redefine the industry.
Born in Piacenza, northern Italy, on July 11, 1934, Armani was the son of an accountant. He initially studied Medicine, drawn by his interest in anatomy, but abandoned the course. After serving in the Army, he had his first contact with the fashion world as a buyer for the department store La Rinascente, in Milan. He was later hired to design the menswear line for the fashion house Nino Cerruti, where he stood out.
Working independently, he dared to deconstruct the suit — a move that transformed tailoring. His goal was to modernize men’s wardrobes by introducing lighter fabrics and cuts that eliminated linings and padding, bringing garments closer to the body and making them more comfortable.
“I was motivated by the desire to modernize tailoring. (…) The result was a new look, closer to the body’s shape and more comfortable. People wore it for its modern appearance, but also because it felt good to wear,” Armani told Revista Ela in an interview.
In the 1980s, his aesthetic became synonymous with sophistication and power, both in cinema and in the corporate world, cementing Armani as one of the most influential designers in global fashion history.
