Giorgio Armani: From aspiring doctor to fashion icon
He is already 90 years old, yet he still bows at the end of fashion shows. In Italy, he is almost worshipped – no wonder, given that every one of his designs is a true masterpiece. Who would have thought that young Giorgio had not considered tailoring and wanted to become a doctor?
11 July 2024 16:19
Giorgio Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in the industrial town of Piacenza in northern Italy. His family was not well off. The situation became complicated when Armani's father was imprisoned after the war for collaborating with the Fascist party, leaving his mother alone with three children.
Did he dream of a career as a designer from childhood? No, the reality was completely different
Young Giorgio wanted to escape poverty, so he decided to become a doctor. However, after two years of medical studies, he was drafted into the military and assigned to a military hospital. There, he dealt with complicated cases and concluded that he was too sensitive to become a doctor.
After his service, he took up photography and worked as an interior decorator at the Rinascente department store in Milan. Designer Nino Cerruti noticed his artistic sense there, in whose atelier Giorgio Armani spent nearly the next ten years. He also met his life partner, Sergio Galeotti, who encouraged him to create his own brand.
In 1975, he presented his first men's collection – it was met with an incredibly favourable reception from the fashion world. In the following season, a women's collection appeared, and it was already clear that the name Armani would achieve worldwide fame. Successes came quickly.
Giorgio Armani quickly gained recognition and worldwide fame
In 1980, the Italian designer's clothes were featured in the movie American Gigolo with Richard Gere. Following that, he began regularly dressing as a movie star and musician. One cannot fail to mention Madonna's mishap when she fell on stage at the Brit Awards because she got tangled in an Armani cape. However, the designer's office clarified that it was the singer's fault, as she had modified and replaced the hooks with ties.
The image was the most important thing for him. Even when, in 1985, his partner died of AIDS, the designer publicly announced that the cause of death was heart problems. Nevertheless, Armani has always been surrounded by true reverence in Italy. He is even called "re," meaning king. He is a true workhorse who oversees every stage of clothing and accessory production. Even now, at 90, he bows at the end of his shows.
