GIORGIO ARMANI
Name: Giorgio Armani
Born: 11 July 1934 Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Giorgio Armani (born 11 July 1934) is an Italian fashion designer, particularly
noted for his menswear. He formed his company, Armani, in 1974, and by 2001 was
acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an
annual turnover of $1.691 billion, and a personal fortune of $4.1 billion.
Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. He originally trained in
medicine, but found his passion in photography, before being called up for
national service in 1957. He then worked in a department store, La Rinascente,
as a window dresser. From 1961 to 1970, Armani worked as a designer in well-known
fashion house Nino Cerruti, after which he left to pursue freelance work. In
1974, with his partner Sergio Galeotti, he established Armani with a menswear
label, introducing a womenswear line in 1975. His sister Rosanna Armani joined
him in the company; Galeotti died of AIDS in 1985.
Giorgio Armani has a keen interest in sport; he is an acknowledged fan of Inter
Milan, a president of the Milan basketball team, and has twice designed the "off-field"
outfits for the England national football team.
He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He achieved his international
breakthrough by tailoring for numerous Hollywood names and especially for
Richard Gere in the title role of American Gigolo in 1980. Armani was also noted
for building a mansion on the Caribbean island of Antigua, and being among the
first designers to ban models with a body mass index (BMI) under 18 (the minimum
healthy BMI), after model Ana Carolina Reston starved herself to death due to
anorexia nervosa. In January 2007 Armani has become the first designer to
broadcast a haute couture fashion show live on the Internet. The haute couture
Armani Prive spring/summer 2007 fashion show was broadcast via Microsoft
Corporation’s MSN and Cingular cellular phones.
In 2001, Forbes named Giorgio Armani the most successful Italian designer,
estimating his net worth at $1.7 billion. The following year he was appointed as
a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
In 2007, Armani was named the "Best Dressed Environmentalist" by the Sustainable
Style Foundation. In 2006, he designed the ceremonial Italian flag-bearers'
outfits at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Turin, Italy.
In 2006, Forbes once again named Giorgio Armani the most successful Italian
designer. His net worth was $4.1 billion.
In February 2007, Giorgio Armani said that he was prepared to sell his
trademarks.
England's Chelsea and Hong Kong's South China are the only two football teams
being sponsored by Giorgio Armani.
Name: Giorgio Armani
Born: 11 July 1934 Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna, Italy
Giorgio Armani (born 11 July 1934) is an Italian fashion designer, particularly
noted for his menswear. He formed his company, Armani, in 1974, and by 2001 was
acclaimed as the most successful designer to come out of Italy, with an
annual turnover of $1.691 billion, and a personal fortune of $4.1 billion.
Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, Emilia-Romagna. He originally trained in
medicine, but found his passion in photography, before being called up for
national service in 1957. He then worked in a department store, La Rinascente,
as a window dresser. From 1961 to 1970, Armani worked as a designer in well-known
fashion house Nino Cerruti, after which he left to pursue freelance work. In
1974, with his partner Sergio Galeotti, he established Armani with a menswear
label, introducing a womenswear line in 1975. His sister Rosanna Armani joined
him in the company; Galeotti died of AIDS in 1985.
Giorgio Armani has a keen interest in sport; he is an acknowledged fan of Inter
Milan, a president of the Milan basketball team, and has twice designed the "off-field"
outfits for the England national football team.
He is known today for his clean, tailored lines. He achieved his international
breakthrough by tailoring for numerous Hollywood names and especially for
Richard Gere in the title role of American Gigolo in 1980. Armani was also noted
for building a mansion on the Caribbean island of Antigua, and being among the
first designers to ban models with a body mass index (BMI) under 18 (the minimum
healthy BMI), after model Ana Carolina Reston starved herself to death due to
anorexia nervosa. In January 2007 Armani has become the first designer to
broadcast a haute couture fashion show live on the Internet. The haute couture
Armani Prive spring/summer 2007 fashion show was broadcast via Microsoft
Corporation’s MSN and Cingular cellular phones.
In 2001, Forbes named Giorgio Armani the most successful Italian designer,
estimating his net worth at $1.7 billion. The following year he was appointed as
a Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
In 2007, Armani was named the "Best Dressed Environmentalist" by the Sustainable
Style Foundation. In 2006, he designed the ceremonial Italian flag-bearers'
outfits at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Turin, Italy.
In 2006, Forbes once again named Giorgio Armani the most successful Italian
designer. His net worth was $4.1 billion.
In February 2007, Giorgio Armani said that he was prepared to sell his
trademarks.
England's Chelsea and Hong Kong's South China are the only two football teams
being sponsored by Giorgio Armani.