Legendary Italian Designer Giorgio Armani Is Dead

Italian fashion legend and billionaire designer Giorgio Armani has passed away at the age of 91.

Armani Group announced his death in a statement on Thursday, September 4, 2025, describing the founder as “a tireless driving force.”

The company said the designer died peacefully, surrounded by loved ones, stressing that he worked tirelessly until the very end, always focused on his company, his collections, and future projects.

“Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones, In this company, we have always felt like part of a family,” read the statement provided by the brand on behalf of his family and employees.

“Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. 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.”

Giorgio Armani was long considered the face of Italian elegance, reshaping men’s and women’s suits to fit modern tastes. What began as a fashion house grew into a global empire that included beauty, fragrance, sports, music, and luxury hotels, earning over £2 billion annually.

Tributes poured in following his death. Donatella Versace shared a photo of Armani on Instagram, saying, “The world lost a giant today, he made history and will be remembered forever.”

Armani transformed red carpet style, shaping the glamorous looks we see today, and in 2006 became the first major designer to ban extremely underweight models after the tragic death of Ana Carolina Reston.

Earlier this year, in June 2025, Armani missed his runway appearance at Milan Men’s Fashion Week for the first time in his career.

The company at the time said he was recovering at home, without giving details about his health.

Unlike many fashion houses now owned by global conglomerates such as LVMH and Kering, Armani remained independent, keeping full control of his brand.

Analysts in 2024 valued the business between €8 and €10 billion ($9.3–11.7 billion), but no clear successor has been named.

Plans had already been set for celebrations of Armani’s 50 years in fashion during this month’s Milan Fashion Week, including a special exhibition at the Pinacoteca di Brera and a runway show at Palazzo Brera.

Just last August, Armani gave a cover interview to the Financial Times’ HTSI magazine, where he spoke about his lifelong dedication to fashion.

Reflecting on his career, he said, “I don’t know if I’d use the word workaholic, but hard work is certainly essential to success. My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family.”

ALSO READ: Armani Disses Kim Kardashian For Mis-spelling Giorgio Armani