Giorgio Armani’s Eternal Influence: How a Poor Boy from Italy Revolutionized Fashion and Became a Billionaire
Giorgio Armani, a byword for luxury and opulence, has left an indelible mark in the fashion industry. Known for dressing A-list celebrities on the red carpet since the 1980s, Armani built his multi-billion-dollar empire from humble beginnings. Born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, Armani was the second child of a family that struggled financially. Despite their economic constraints, his mother crafted his clothes, granting him an air of affluence amongst his peers, as he reminisced in the 1990 documentary Made In Milan.
The fashion maestro passed away on Thursday in Milan at the age of 91.
Growing up, Armani harbored a deep affection for early 20th-century designers, artists, and architects. He launched his eponymous Italian luxury fashion house in Milan in 1975, and the movie American Gigolo catapulted him to international fame in 1980. In this crime drama, Richard Gere portrayed a high-end sex worker, with Armani’s minimalistic and revolutionary design taking center stage.
The film showcased an understated brown Armani jacket, featuring a sleek silhouette that contrasted the traditional padding and colors prevalent in men’s fashion at the time. Armani’s suits offered a sculptural quality with more relaxed, casual silhouettes and softer color palettes.
Armani aimed to create clothing that emphasized the body as an art form. Design historian John Potvin, author of the 2013 book Giorgio Armani: Empire of the Senses, credits Armani for revolutionizing fashion with his subtle approach. “He made formal wear and sportswear incredibly comfortable and incredibly accessible,” Potvin told NPR.
While not entirely affordable to everyone, Armani’s ready-to-wear men’s suits typically retailed in the thousands of dollars. His streamlined designs resonated with office culture, making him a favorite among women in corporate circles for decades. In 1990, at the Golden Globes, Julia Roberts donned an oversized gray suit paired with a purple tie, breaking away from traditional glamorous gowns and cementing her status as a style icon. Potvin describes this look as “iconic,” “extremely ’90s,” and “very masculine.”
Over the years, Armani maintained ownership of his privately-held company, generating $2.4 billion in revenue alone in 2022. The Armani fashion house designs, manufactures, distributes, and retails leather goods, shoes, accessories, fragrances, and clothing. Affordable versions of his clothes have been available through Armani Exchange since the 1990s, but Giorgio Armani’s influence on the world of fashion remains everlasting.