One of the most popular and respected fashion designers of all time, Giorgio Armani, has passed away at 91 years old.
While the Italian designer remained private for most of his life, he opened up about his gay experiences in 2024 in an interview with Corriere della Sera. "I was in a group of boys, and there was a supervisor, a young man, who I felt immediately attracted to. I didn't fully understand it at the time, and I didn't pursue it," Armani explained. "But from that moment on, my life took a different turn."
The official Instagram accounts for the Armani brand confirmed the death with a statement that reads:
"Milan, September 4, 2025 – With infinite condolences, the Armani group announces the passing of its inventor, founder and tireless engine: Giorgio Armani.
Mr. Armani, as he was always called with respect and admiration by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones. Tireless, he has worked until the last days, dedicating himself to the company, to the collections, to the different and always new projects in being and to becoming.
Over the years, Giorgio Armani has created a vision that has expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and precision. He was driven by an inexorable curiosity, attention for the present and people. In this journey he created an open dialogue with the public, becoming a beloved and respected figure for his ability to communicate with everyone. Always attentive to the needs of the community, he has committed himself on many fronts, above all to his beloved Milan.
Giorgio Armani is a company with fifty years of history, grown with emotion and patience. Giorgio Armani has always made independence, thought and action, his hallmark. The company is a reflection, today and always, of this feeling. The family and employees will carry the Group forward in respect and continuity of these values."
The statement concluded, "Due to the expressed will of Mr. Armani, the funerals will take place privately."
For more than five decades, Armani was a pioneer in the fashion world not only in terms of design, culture, and aesthetics, but also as an entrepreneur who launched several brands — each with a unique perspective and target audience.
The overall Armani conglomerate included brands such as Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Armani Privé, Emporio Armani, EA7, Armani Jeans, Armani Express, Armani/Casa, Armani Junior and Armani Baby, Armani/Dolci, Giorgio Armani Neve, Armani/Fiori, Giorgio Armani Orologi, Armani/Hotels, Giorgio Armani Occhiali, Armani/Privé Club, among others.
Armani was also known as one of the richest people in the LGBTQ+ community alongside other out gay billionaires like Peter Thiel and David Geffen. As of today, Armani was the 234th richest person in the world, according to Forbes, with a net worth of over $12.1 billion.
This story is still developing…
Years before Stonewall, a cafeteria riot became a breakthrough for trans rights
All about the Compton's Cafeteria riot, when drag queens and trans women rose up against police at a diner in San Francisco.