Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian designer behind the iconic Armani brand, passed away on September 4, 2025, at the age of 91. His dedication to fashion and tireless work ethic inspired generations, and even in his later years, he remained deeply involved in every aspect of his brand. Armani often spoke about how much he loved working, but he also shared a heartfelt regret about the personal sacrifices his career demanded.
In his final interview with the Financial Times, Armani reflected on the cost of building his billion-dollar empire. While he credited hard work for his success, he admitted that it came at the expense of personal relationships. He never married and had no children, and he said of his life:
“I don’t know if I’d use the word workaholic, but hard work is certainly essential to success. My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family.”
Even in his last months, Armani remained hands-on. Although illness kept him from attending several fashion shows in June and July 2025, he continued to approve every detail of his collections remotely. He explained to the Financial Express:
“Everything you will see has been done under my direction and carries my approval.”
Looking to the future, Armani had carefully planned the succession of his brand. He wanted the transition to be gradual and organic, passing responsibilities to a trusted inner circle rather than creating a sudden rupture. His succession plan included family members—his nieces Silvana and Roberta Armani, his nephew Andrea Camerana, and his sister Rosanna Armani—as well as longtime collaborators like Leo Dell’Orco, head of Armani’s men’s design for over 45 years. Armani described his vision for the brand’s future, saying:
“My plans for succession consist of a gradual transition of the responsibilities that I have always handled to those closest to me, such as Leo Dell’Orco, the members of my family and the entire working team. I would like the succession to be organic and not a moment of rupture.”
Giorgio Armani’s life was defined by passion, precision, and dedication, and his legacy will continue through both his creations and the carefully planned stewardship of the brand he built from the ground up.
