Giorgio Armani, who built a $10 billion fashion empire on simplicity and style, dies at 91

Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian designer who built an empire on understated elegance and timeless style, has died at the age of 91, his fashion house confirmed on Thursday. He died at home, the company said.Armani missed Milan Fashion Week in June 2025 for the first time, citing health concerns, and had been preparing a major event this month to mark the 50th anniversary of his fashion house. Despite declining health, he maintained direct control over his empire until the end, outlining plans for creative succession through longtime collaborators Leo Dell'Orco and his niece Silvana Armani.A fashion revolutionBorn in Piacenza in 1934, Armani began his career as a window dresser before launching his label in 1975 with partner Sergio Galeotti. His soft, unstructured jacket and relaxed tailoring redefined global fashion in the late 1970s and 1980s, creating the “power suit” that became a symbol of ambition on Wall Street and beyond.His designs, minimalist, muted, and meticulously crafted, dressed everyone from Hollywood actors to corporate executives. Richard Gere’s wardrobe in American Gigolo (1980) catapulted Armani to international fame, sparking a Hollywood love affair that would earn him over 200 film credits and countless red-carpet appearances.From couture to empireOver five decades, Armani built a business worth more than $10 billion, encompassing clothing, accessories, home furnishings, perfumes, cosmetics, chocolates, flowers, and even hotels in Dubai and Milan. He also owned restaurants, bars, and the basketball team EA7 Emporio Armani Milan. Forbes ranked him among the world’s top 200 billionaires.The man behind the brandOften called Re Giorgio — King George — Armani was instantly recognizable: silver hair, tanned skin, and a uniform of jeans and a simple t-shirt. “I design for real people. There is no virtue whatsoever in creating clothes and accessories that are not practical,” he once said.While his demeanor was famously gentle, Armani proved a shrewd businessman, keeping his company independent in an era of conglomerates. He established a foundation to safeguard his legacy and avoid the breakup of his brand.Global influence and legacyArmani’s reach went far beyond fashion. In 2000, the Guggenheim Museum in New York dedicated a retrospective to his work. He supported AIDS research, children’s charities, and was named a UN goodwill ambassador for refugees in 2002.Though he never married or had children, Armani remained close to his family, particularly his niece Roberta, who became a key representative of the brand.As tributes pour in from the fashion world, Armani’s legacy endures, not only in the billions his empire generates, but in the silhouette, spirit, and simplicity that reshaped modern style.