Legendary Italian fashion designer, billionaire and yacht owner Giorgio Armani has died aged 91. He passed "peacefully [and] surrounded by his loved ones," according to a statement released by the company.
Born in 1934 in the northern Italian town of Piacenze, Armani's early years involved a passion for medicine, studying at the University of Milan for three years (1950-1953) before completing a two-year stint at the Military Hospital in Verona. His first footing in the fashion world came from his role as a window dresser and sales clerk at one of Milan's most prestigious department stores, La Rinascente.
From there, the young Armani freelanced for stylists and design houses of the likes of Nino Cerruti, Allegri, Bagutta, Hilton and Montedoro, which led him to befriending Sergio Galeotti, an architectural draftsman that persuaded him to open a design office in Milan.
In 1975, Armani founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A. in Milan, swiftly followed by the Giorgio Armani Corporation in 1979. The company is now one of the leading names in international fashion, operating under product lines such as Giorgio Armani Underwear and Swimwear, Giorgio Armani Accessories and Armani Beauty.
Armani was very involved in the yachting world. He was an avid sailer, reflected in his company's sponsorship of the Giorgio Armani Superyacht Regatta (in collaboration with Yacht Club Costa Smeralda), as well as his many private yachts. This included a sub-24-metre sailing yacht and two Codecasas: the first was Mariù (after his mother) and the second and slightly larger was named Main, delivered in 2008. Dark green and glossy, Armani told BOAT International that he "designed [Main] entirely, from the hull to the interiors, putting in everything [he considered] important at sea and, at the same time, introducing a concept of the home."
In his final years, Armani extended his legacy to that of superyacht design. Admiral, a brand of The Italian Sea Group, recently launched a collaboration with the fashion designer known as Project Metamorphosis. The 72-metre found a new owner just last year and is the first in an exclusive, two-yacht series by Armani, scheduled to debut at this year's Monaco Yacht Show. Unconventional geometric forms and a satin gold colourway characterise the yacht, in keeping with Armani's visionary approach.
"Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections and the many ongoing and future projects," read the statement from Giorgio Armani. "Over the years, Giorgio Armani has crafted a vision that expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism. The company is, now and always, a reflection of this spirit. His family and employees will carry the Group forward in respect and continuity of these values."
Armani resisted calls to name a successor, but industry observers have speculated that the company will be taken over by a selection of family members who have held various roles over the years. This includes his nieces Roberta, Silvana Armani and Andrea Camerana, as well as Pantaleo Dell’Orco, the head of the men’s style office who has been at the company since 1977.