Giorgio Armani, the billionaire Italian fashion designer behind one of the world’s most iconic brands, has died. He was 91.
Armani died at his Milan home on Thursday, Sept. 4, his fashion house confirmed on social media.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani group announces the passing of its creator, founder and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the house wrote in an Instagram post Tuesday, Sept. 4.
“Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admirably called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” the post reads. “Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing future projects.”
Armani formed his eponymous fashion company in 1975, which eventually expanded into music, sports and luxury hotels. Armani was considered the most successful designer of Italian origin and is credited with pioneering red-carpet fashion.
Armani was also one of the richest LGBTQ+ billionaires in 2024 with an estimated worth of $12.4 billion.
“The world lost a giant today,” Donatella Versace wrote in an Instagram post. “He made history and will be remembered forever.”
Armani missed his two shows at Milan Fashion Week in June for the first time in his career to recover from an undisclosed condition, the BBC reported at the time.
The designer had planned a celebratory event for his company’s 50th anniversary this year during Milan Fashion Week in September, The Associated Press reported.
“In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion and dedication,” Armani’s Instagram post read. “But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”
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