Giorgio Armani

Born in Piacenza in 1934, Giorgio Armani studied medicine before being drafted into the army and then becoming a window dresser at La Rinascente in Milan. After a long tenure as menswear designer for Nino Cerruti through the late 1960s and early 1970s, he founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A. with his partner Sergio Galeotti in 1975. His unstructured tailoring redefined the modern suit for both men and women, and his costuming for American Gigolo in 1980 made him a global figure. He launched the more youthful diffusion line Emporio Armani in 1981, followed by Armani Jeans, Armani Collezioni, Armani Privé haute couture, Armani Casa, hotels and beauty. He led the privately held group as chairman and sole shareholder until his death in 2025.