Dictionary Thesaurus Word Dynamo Quotes Reference Translator Spanish

Giorgio Armani

Fashion career

From 1961 to 1970, Armani worked as a designer in well-known fashion house Nino Cerruti Jimenez, 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.

Armani achieved his international breakthrough by tailoring for numerous Hollywood names and especially for Richard Gere in the title role of American Gigolo in 1980. In 2001, Forbes named him the most successful Italian designer, estimating his net worth at $1.7 billion; in giving him the same title five years later, the magazine estimated his fortune had grown to $4.1 billion.

Giorgio Armani has created a very popular line of fragrances that contains about 45 titles among them some of best sellers like Acqua di Gio and Armani Code.

Innovations

Armani was the first designer to ban models with a body mass index (BMI) under 18, after model Ana Carolina Reston starved herself to death due to anorexia nervosa.

In January 2007 Armani became the first designer to broadcast a haute couture fashion show live on the Internet. The Armani Privé spring/summer 2007 fashion show was broadcast via Microsoft Corporation’s MSN and Cingular cellular phones.

Armani teamed up with Samsung to make the Giorgio Armani cell phone similar to the LG Prada.

Armani designed made to measure suits for Christian Bale's character Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight. Advertisements featuring 'Bruce Wayne for Giorgio Armani' with pictures of Christian Bale wearing Armani suits from the film were released in 2008.

In sport

Giorgio Armani has a keen interest in sports; he is the president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team,, an Inter Milan fan and has twice designed suits for the England national football team. He has been responsible for the suits worn by England's Chelsea FC since August 2007. He designed the ceremonial Italian flag-bearers' outfits at the 2006 Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony in Turin.

Controversies

In 2007, Mr. Armani pledged to PETA that he would discontinue the use of animal fur in his fashions. This year, however, he has included clothing with fur in his lines, including rabbit-fur coats for babies and children.

Notes

References

Mackenzie, Suzie "The gentle touch". The Guardian, Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
McCartney, Stella "The wisdom of King Giorgio". Independent on Sunday, Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
"Q & A: Giorgio Armani". The Scene. CNN, Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
Lee, Vinny "Above the shop". The Times, Retrieved on 2007-09-23.
Schinke, Amanda "Liar, Liar, Armani on Fire!". PETA, Retrieved on 2008-10-09.