Giorgio Armani, the Milan-based designer who built the Armani Group into a global fashion house, has died at the age of 91, his company said on Sept. 4, 2025; the house said a mourning chamber will be open in Milan on Saturday and Sunday, with a private funeral to follow at an unspecified date.
Key takeaways
- Giorgio Armani, aged 91, has died, the Armani Group announced on Sept. 4, 2025.
- He founded and led the Armani Group for about five decades and remained its sole owner.
- The business reports roughly €2.3 billion in annual turnover (about $2.7 billion).
- Armani had been unwell and missed Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week in June — the first time he skipped a runway event in his career.
- The company said staff and family will work to preserve his legacy and continue the business.
- A public mourning chamber will be set up in Milan on Saturday and Sunday; the formal funeral date is private.
Verified facts
The Armani Group confirmed the designer’s death in a statement on Sept. 4, 2025. Giorgio Armani founded the eponymous label and guided it from a small atelier into a multinational fashion house, remaining the group’s sole owner and chief creative influence for decades.
The company reported annual turnover of around €2.3 billion (approximately $2.7 billion), reflecting the brand’s broad reach across clothing, accessories and licensing. Colleagues and family members have been described as a tight circle involved in running the business.
In June 2025 Armani missed his group’s shows during Milan’s Men’s Fashion Week due to illness — the first time he had been absent from one of his catwalk events in his career. The company indicated he had been unwell for some time prior to his death.
Context & impact
Armani was widely regarded as a defining figure in modern Italian fashion, credited with bringing a relaxed, tailored aesthetic to menswear and womenswear alike. His influence extended from design to brand strategy, advertising and the careful presentation of shows.
His passing will be felt across a sector that relies on strong creative figures at its helm. The company’s pledge to protect the business suggests continuity plans centered on long-standing executives and family involvement rather than immediate structural change.
- Retail and licensing partners will watch the company’s leadership decisions closely.
- Luxury markets often react to founder departures with short-term volatility in collaborations and creative direction.
Official statements
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder and tireless driving force,”
Armani Group statement
The company also said employees and family members who have long worked alongside Mr. Armani “commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility and love.”
Unconfirmed
- No official cause of death has been released by the Armani Group as of Sept. 4, 2025.
- The exact date for the private funeral has not been provided.
Bottom line
Giorgio Armani’s death marks the end of an era for one of Italy’s most influential fashion houses. The company’s immediate message emphasized continuity and preservation of his work; the coming weeks will clarify leadership arrangements and how the brand navigates a post-founder chapter.