THE LEGACY OF GIORGIO ARMANI
editor MAREK BARTEK
It is not very often that I would be short of words, but the news of Giorgio Armani’s passing, really left me speechless. I’m not stupid, I know no one can live forever, but somehow, I just assumed that Mr Armani will always be here. Most of us grew up knowing Armani as a huge fashion brand with him in the forefront, so I’ve never really thought it would be any different.
image credit: Mondadori Portfolio via GETTY IMAGES
In the very beginning, Armani was a medical professional. At the age of 26, he started to design for Nino Cerruti, before launching his eponymous label in 1975 and, together with his partner Sergio Galeotti, Armani changed fashion forever. At a time when men’s tailoring was stiff and heavily structured, he approached design with the intention to soften the shoulders, relax the fit, and introduce a natural fluidity. It was a liberation from the rules that had defined men’s wardrobes for decades.
The global success arrived in 1980 with Armani dressing Richard Gere in the movie American Gigolo. More than just a cinematic hit, this was the moment the world was introduced to the “Armani man,” showcasing a new masculine ideal. From there, Armani became the designer of choice for actors, musicians, and stars of every kind. He more or less invented the concept of red-carpet dressing, long before fashion houses began treating celebrities as official ambassadors.
In the 80s, Armani also started to design sleek, tailored suits for women that became the uniform of power dressing. These clothes offered a new language for women by ultimately being elegant without frills, and powerful without losing femininity.
Over the course of five decades, Armani build an empire. Giorgio Armani became the synonym of timeless elegance, Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange brought to life to introduce the style of Armani to younger audiences; and Armani Privé, launched in 2005, placed him firmly among the greats of haute couture. He designed uniforms for the Italian police, Milan taxi drivers, and Olympic athletes. He expanded way beyond fashion into fragrance, cosmetics, interiors, and hotels. Armani became a universe but at its heart remained a man committed to his love for the craft.
Giorgio Armani was a man of vision. He was a designer with a point of view, and passion for what he did, and so today, we want to remind everyone that Armani lives on, in his life’s work, ideas and values, he’s presented for the past 50 years.
