Italian fashion behemoth Giorgio Armani has died at home, aged 91, according to his company.
“With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” the company said in a statement, adding that he passed away “surrounded by loved ones.”
“In this company, we have always felt like part of a family,” the statement, released Thursday, said.
“Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication, but it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”
The design icon said just last week in an interview that his “greatest weakness” was his inability to relinquish control. He was CEO and creative director of the brand he founded in 1975, right up until his passing.
“Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects,” the statement added.
It also shone a light on how the company will continue without its figurehead. “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,” it said.
His brand quickly gained dominance in the luxury market when it was founded in Milan, Italy. It “defined the 1980s and shaped the course of fashion beyond it,” Vogue wrote in an obituary.
Armani was born in the northern Italian town of Piacenza in 1934. After studying medicine in Milan, and a stint in the Army, he went into menswear design and eventually founded his eponymous brand. His current net worth is over $12 billion, according to Forbes.
His private funeral will take place this weekend in Milan.
“The funeral chamber will be set up from Saturday, September 6th to Sunday, September 7th, and will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., in Milan, at Via Bergognone 59, inside the Armani/Teatro. In accordance with Mr. Armani’s explicit wishes, the funeral will be held privately,” the company said.
The post Legendary Fashion Designer Passes Away Aged 91 appeared first on The Daily Beast.
