Childhood and youth
The future couturier was born in the town of Piacenza, Italy, on July 11, 1934. In early childhood, little Giorgio was not at all interested in the world of fashion. On the contrary, Armani's dreams revolved around a much more earthly profession: the young man planned to work as a doctor. For this reason, Giorgio Armani entered the prestigious University of Bologna, but two years later he realized with regret: the idea of becoming a doctor turned out to be a mistake.
Fashion designer Giorgio Armani
Giorgio leaves the university with no idea where to go next. The army gave the young man a couple of years of respite. Then the question of further work again arose before Armani. Giorgio stopped at the photo. The future fashion designer walked everywhere with a brand new camera, looking for interesting scenes, original shots and gradually improving his ability to set an angle and feel the play of light.
Giorgio Armani in childhood
Gradually, Giorgio Armani's photographs became more and more artistic. One day, an acquaintance of Giorgio, admiring these photographs, offered Armani a position as a window designer at the La Rinescente store. Giorgio, who at that moment needed work and money, agreed without hesitation.
Giorgio Armani in his youth
This department store, in fact, became the first testing ground for creativity and self-expression for the great master. The work of the designer allowed the style genius to experiment with colors and decorative elements. Soon, Armani's talented ideas attracted the attention of the department store owner. This moment, without a doubt, became key in the future career of Giorgio Armani.
Giorgio Armani: childhood
The mother, despite the huge number of household chores, was always very kind to the children and was involved in their development. She herself was a creative person to her fingertips and loved art very much. She instilled in her children an artistic taste and instilled in them a love of theater. In the warm home circle they often staged mini-performances. The puppet theater was a favorite performance for children. Little Giorgio was creating outfits for theatrical dolls. Sketches flowing into precise and detailed sketches smoothly turned into real masterpieces that can only appear in the hands of such a young designer. He also sewed costumes for the dolls of his beloved sister, whose friends were very jealous of such outfits.
Then the war began. The already difficult situation in the country worsened even further, and the parents decided to send their children to the village. Giorgio was already old enough to realize what was happening. It so happened that he and his sister came under fire and the only place where they could hide was a ditch. The brother covered his sister with his jacket, trying to protect her. The fear, pain and tears that the very young boy had to endure left a mark on Giorgio’s soul and strengthened his character. When the war ended, Giorgio's family moved to the capital of Italy. Beautiful Milan attracted Giorgio with its chic, and he dreamed of the fame of the actor. But my parents insisted on a down-to-earth and secure career as a doctor. The guy, who deeply respects the will of his parents, gave in. But character and desires took their toll, so two years later Giorgio left the University and went to serve in the army.
Design
After some time, Giorgio Armani was entrusted with independently drawing up plans for purchasing goods from India and Japan, putting together clothing collections to suit his own taste. This captivated the aspiring designer so much that fashion and style soon became a priority interest in life for Giorgio. The master himself later admits that what was happening turned out to be like an obsession: styles and shapes, colors and shades - this diversity captured Armani so much that he thought about creating his own line of clothing.
Designer Giorgio Armani
The first sketches, many of which would later come to life, were composed by the master while working in this department store. A few years later, in 1961, Armani went to work for Nino Cerutti, becoming the great master’s assistant. Giorgio collaborated with Cerutti for six years, creating new clothing patterns, inventing new models and sitting at the sewing machine. These clothes were then produced under the Hitman brand, which belonged to Cerutti.
Giorgio Armani and his models
Then Armani crossed paths with Ermenegildo Zegna and Emanuel Ungaro, from whom Giorgio also had a lot to learn. Since the early 1970s, Armani began creating his own clothing models outside of collaborations with anyone and then selling sketches to famous fashion houses.
Fashion house
The fashion designer liked this activity of a free artist, and Armani started thinking about his own business. In 1974, Giorgio presented the first clothing line under his own name. This event is considered to be the beginning of Giorgio Armani’s independent path to the heights of the fashion world and fame. Fashionistas and fashionistas liked the first collection, and strict critics reacted surprisingly favorably to the debut. A year later, in 1975, Giorgio Armani, together with Sergio Galeotti, a close friend, founded the Giorgio Armani spa brand.
Clothes from Giorgio Armani
The fashion maestro devoted the following years to the development of his own brainchild. Soon the Giorgio Armani brand becomes almost the most recognizable in the world. The company's product range is gradually expanding. Now fashionistas can choose not only Armani clothes, but also watches, comfortable shoes, accessories and costume jewelry, and jewelry. Soon, her own collection of eau de toilette appeared, created together with. Armani perfumes, along with the brand's clothing and cosmetics, are becoming incredibly desirable for fashion-conscious men and women.
Perfume "Giorgio Armani"
After some time, the company grew so much that Giorgio Armani decided to create unique divisions, each of which would be responsible for a separate direction. For example, all collectible clothing began to be released under the Giorgio Armani label. Outfits in a more affordable price category appeared with the tags “Armani Collezioni” and “Armani Exchange”. And even young fashionistas received their own brand “Armani Junior”.
Watch "Giorgio Armani"
The success of Giorgio Armani was stunning - there was, perhaps, not a single country in which fashion connoisseurs did not dream of clothes from the great master. This hobby has not escaped show business stars either. Leonardo DiCaprio, Julia Roberts, Robert de Niro, Jodie Foster became Armani's regular clients. And this is not a complete list of star names. According to some media reports, 90% of the celebrities who appeared on the Oscars red carpet were dressed in outfits from the popular couturier.
Leonardo DiCaprio in a Giorgio Armani suit
And directors Paul Schrader and Brian De Palma signed contracts with them to make clothes for actors. In addition, the couturier was invited as a costume designer for the filming of The Matrix, American Gigolo, and The Untouchables. Judging by what the audience saw in the frame, the master coped with the task perfectly.
Moreover, every brand advertisement, be it a video or a photo in magazines, is truly a work of art with the participation of only famous stars. As it turns out, it’s not just partygoers and get-togethers who want to look fashionable. Giorgio Armani has developed the concept of a unique football kit for London's Chelsea. Giorgio Armani's contribution to the development of world fashion did not go unnoticed - the master was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor.
Friendship
In 1966, a very important meeting took place in Armani’s life - on vacation he met Sergio Gagliotti. A cheerful, sociable, cheerful architect and a reserved, silent designer - they organically complemented each other. The young people became very close, and soon after they met, Gagliotti moved to Milan. It was Sergio who became the person who inspired Armani to create his own collection. In 1975, Giorgio and Sergio invested all their money in their own business. They even had to sell their old Volkswagen! They rented a small basement in a narrow Milanese alley and began to work. The roles in their tandem were clearly divided: Armani's sphere was fashion, and Gagliotti was in charge of accounting and advertising.
The business was built very competently. Gorgeous clothes and a well-planned advertising campaign led to brilliant results: everyone wanted to wear Armani clothes. Already in September 1980, the first show in New York was a great success. The venue was the legendary Rockefeller Center. The friends were triumphant: honor, fame, success, money - they achieved everything they wanted. They were truly happy and made plans for the future. But in 1984, Sergio Gagliotti was struck down by illness. The diagnosis sounded like a shot: AIDS. If Armani was ever overcome by despair, it was only during those long months when his only friend was dying in agony. Gagliotti died in August 1985.
Giorgio seemed to have broken down. Many in the fashion world feared that the Armani fashion house was about to collapse, because not only a close friend had passed away, but also a business partner; Armani himself had never been involved in the business. But the collection, released just a few months after Sergio's death, was a stunning success. This show became a kind of exam. Armani proved to the whole world that he himself can manage the company and will be successful in business.
Personal life
Giorgio Armani's personal life, unfortunately, was not at all as enchanting as his career. The master paid for his success and popularity with loneliness, although this price turned out to be high. Couturier was not married, Armani has no children. By Giorgio’s own admission, the closest person to him was his niece, who also works in the company of his eminent uncle.
Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti
Giorgio has repeatedly stated that he is bisexual. Presumably, Sergio Galeotti was the master’s constant friend and partner for twenty years. In 1985, Galeotti left this world. The cause of death was listed as HIV infection. This tragic event unsettled Giorgio for a long time, driving him into serious depression. However, the master found the strength to continue creating. After this, no information about Giorgio Armani's affairs of the heart was released to the press. Apparently, art and fashion have become an outlet and meaning of life for Armani.
