ROME, Sept 5 — Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at 91, the fashion house said in a post on social media on Thursday, reported the German Press Agency (dpa).
He was working up until his final days and died surrounded by his loved ones, the statement said.
Armani was one of the most influential fashion designers in the world.
Born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, northern Italy, his family moved to Milan after World War II. After graduating from high school, he began studying medicine, but dropped out after two years.
Known as the “Principe della Moda” (Prince of Fashion), Armani was the second child of a housewife and a freight forwarder.
Armani’s mother attached great importance to clothing, even during the war years. But his grandfather, who earned his living as a make-up artist and wig maker at the municipal theatre, probably had a greater influence on his fashion sense in his younger years.
Last year, Armani mooted the idea of retirement, telling Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera that he planned to head his company for a couple more years.
His creations, often described as casual and simple yet elegant, have been sported on many a red carpet, including by Hollywood stars Richard Gere, Kevin Costner, Nicole Kidman, and Cate Blanchett.
