“Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered”
- Giorgio Armani
1934, Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, Emilia Romagna Italy, 70 kms from Milan, the future head office of Giorgio Armani’s fashion empire.
1950s: university, military service and window dressing:
Inspired by A.J.Cronin`s novel The Citadel, Giorgio Armani planned to pursue medical career and enrolled into the medicine department of University of Milan at the beginning of 1950s, but dropped out after 3 years to join the army.
Two years later, after his military service, Armani got a job at La Renaiscente, he largest and most elegant department store in Milan as window dresser. He was later promoted to salesman in menswear department where he started to learn about fashion, in particular, the marketing mechanisms.
Inspired by A.J.Cronin`s novel The Citadel, Giorgio Armani planned to pursue medical career and enrolled into the medicine department of University of Milan at the beginning of 1950s, but dropped out after 3 years to join the army.
Two years later, after his military service, Armani got a job at La Renaiscente, he largest and most elegant department store in Milan as window dresser. He was later promoted to salesman in menswear department where he started to learn about fashion, in particular, the marketing mechanisms.
1960s: Nino Cerruti and Sergio Galeotti
In 1960s Giorgio Armani met two persons that changed his life.
In 1964, Nino Cerruti, an Italian business man inheriting his family textile and manwear business asked Giorgio Armani to work under him as fashion designer for Cerruti`s first men`s collection Hitman, thus initiated Giorgio Armani`s career as a fashion designer.
In the next few years, Giorgio Armani continued to learn everything about fashion, as well as fabrics, which will be vital for his later success, who likes to use unusal and high quality fabrics.
In late 1960s, Armani met Sergio Galeotti, an architect who became his boyfriend, and later his partner both in life and business until the latter`s early death in 1985 due to AIDS.
According to Giorgio Armani, it was Sergio who opened his mind and horizon. While working for Nino Cerruti, it was Sergio who encouraged him to work for other garment manufacturers on freelance basis, it was also Sergio who pursuaded him to open his design office in 1973 and later create his own label in 1975.
In 1960s Giorgio Armani met two persons that changed his life.
In 1964, Nino Cerruti, an Italian business man inheriting his family textile and manwear business asked Giorgio Armani to work under him as fashion designer for Cerruti`s first men`s collection Hitman, thus initiated Giorgio Armani`s career as a fashion designer.
In the next few years, Giorgio Armani continued to learn everything about fashion, as well as fabrics, which will be vital for his later success, who likes to use unusal and high quality fabrics.
In late 1960s, Armani met Sergio Galeotti, an architect who became his boyfriend, and later his partner both in life and business until the latter`s early death in 1985 due to AIDS.
According to Giorgio Armani, it was Sergio who opened his mind and horizon. While working for Nino Cerruti, it was Sergio who encouraged him to work for other garment manufacturers on freelance basis, it was also Sergio who pursuaded him to open his design office in 1973 and later create his own label in 1975.
1970s: Giorgio Armani S.p.A
All through the early 1970’s, Armani freelanced for a number of manufactures and fashion brands like Allegri, Hilton, Gibo, etc.
Then in 1973, with the encouragement of Sergio, Armani opened his own design office to accomodate all the brands he was designing for.
All through the early 1970’s, Armani freelanced for a number of manufactures and fashion brands like Allegri, Hilton, Gibo, etc.
Then in 1973, with the encouragement of Sergio, Armani opened his own design office to accomodate all the brands he was designing for.
1980s: American Gigolo and Giorgio International
1980s is the decade when Giorgio Armani expanded both his fame and his designing career internationally, due mostly to the Film of Paul Schrader (1980) American Gigolo played by Richard Gere, whose whole wardrobe was designed by Giorgio Armani.
Then in 1982 Armani appeared on the April 5 issue of Time magazine, the second fashion designer ever appearing on Time magazine since Christian Dior in the 1940s.
It is also the decade whe Giorgio Armani designed his famous power suits for women, making power dressing a must for the professional women who wanted success in the man dorminated world.
1980s is the decade when Giorgio Armani expanded both his fame and his designing career internationally, due mostly to the Film of Paul Schrader (1980) American Gigolo played by Richard Gere, whose whole wardrobe was designed by Giorgio Armani.
Then in 1982 Armani appeared on the April 5 issue of Time magazine, the second fashion designer ever appearing on Time magazine since Christian Dior in the 1940s.
It is also the decade whe Giorgio Armani designed his famous power suits for women, making power dressing a must for the professional women who wanted success in the man dorminated world.
1990s: An empire was born
In 1980s, Giorgio Armani has created multiple production lines, but the 1990s is the decade of Giorgio Armani global expansion.
In 1991 he created A/X Armani Exchange for younger people with a more casual style and more affordable price, in particular the American market where Giorgio Armani enjoyed the most recorginition. Then he dived into sportswear like swimwear and skiwear for men and women, cosmetics, accessories and household items.
In 1980s, Giorgio Armani has created multiple production lines, but the 1990s is the decade of Giorgio Armani global expansion.
In 1991 he created A/X Armani Exchange for younger people with a more casual style and more affordable price, in particular the American market where Giorgio Armani enjoyed the most recorginition. Then he dived into sportswear like swimwear and skiwear for men and women, cosmetics, accessories and household items.
up to 2018:
Giorgio Armani empire has more than 2700 point of sales in more than 60 countries, 5700 employees, 13 factories so that Giorgio Armani can control a he quality and distribution of its products. It’s estimated value is about 8,5 billion euros according to Forbes 2018.
Like his designs, Giorgio Armani likes to wear neutral colors only and in simple style, and over the years, he developed his distinctive personal style into a sort of uniform: navy t shirt, grey pants and shockingly comic white sneakers.
I don’t buy Picassos, I buy houses. This is a passion I’ve had since I was young—creating ambiences that make you want to stay.”
- Giorgio Armani
- The homes: Giorgio Armani owned 9 homes around the world with 5 of them in Italy and most of them within Europe, but he spends most of his time in his palazzo in Milan, Italy which is his principle residence to be close to his work.
Palazzo on 30 Via Borgonuovo, Milano, Italy
Villa Pantelleria Sicily, Italy
Mansion in Saint-Tropez, France
Chalet in La Punt Engadine Valley, Switzerland
Penthouse in Central Park West, New York, USA: 3,500 square feet with 3,200 feet terrace
Mansion in Caribbean island of Antigua, West Indies
- The cars
- The yacht(s)
- The jet(s)