MILAN, ITALY — Timelessness, elegance, and refined poise cannot quantify the resonance and sheer importance of Giorgio Armani’s influence, aesthetics, and impact through the decades.
As a creative who has pushed boundaries of style and garment-making (with a long, extensive history that sees the brand partnering with the world of sports, cinema, lifestyle, and so on), the designer passed away on 4 September.
Giorgio Armani
Mr Armani, as he was always called with respect and admiration by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Tireless, he worked until his last days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the various new projects in progress and in the pipeline. The funeral chapel saw everyone from Donatella Versace to Milan mayor Beppe Sala paying their salutes to the late creative director.
Over the years, Giorgio Armani created a vision that extended from fashion to every aspect of life, being a key purveyor of the times with extraordinary clarity and practicality. He was guided by a relentless curiosity and attention to the present and to people.
Along the way, he created an open dialogue with the public, becoming a beloved and respected figure for his ability to communicate with everyone. Always attentive to the needs of the community, he has been involved on many fronts, especially towards his beloved Milan. Giorgio Armani is a company with a fifty-year history that has grown with emotion and patience.
Giorgio Armani has always made independence, in thought and action, his hallmark. The company embodies this sentiment, both today and always. The family and employees will carry on the Group with respect and continuity of these values.
The Armani Group confirms that the Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani fashion shows will take place as scheduled and present the final collections designed by Giorgio Armani. The opening of the exhibition at the Pinacoteca di Brera, set for Wednesday 24 September, will also go ahead as planned.
The regular staging of the shows and the inauguration of the exhibition, on which Giorgio Armani worked until the very end, reflect the company’s determination to carry forward a legacy of commitment, respect, and dedication to work, values that have always defined Mr. Armani and which he has instilled in all his collaborators over the years.
by Chidozie Obasi