Milan came to a standstill on Saturday as thousands of mourners began paying homage to Italian fashion legend Giorgio Armani, who died on Thursday at the age of 91.
The designer, whose fragile health had declined in recent months, will be laid to rest at a private funeral on Monday. In the meantime, members of the public have been invited to honour his memory at the Teatro Armani, the Milan headquarters of his fashion empire, where his coffin has been placed for public viewing.
By early morning, long queues had already formed, led by Armani Group staff clad in black mourning attire and dark sunglasses. Inside the dimly lit room, Armani’s wooden coffin rested beneath a cascade of white flowers, surrounded by glowing paper lanterns.
“It’s so emotional,” said Silvia Albonetti, a saleswoman at Emporio Armani. “He was an incredible man — sometimes rude, but deeply human.”
Fashion student Pietro Angeleri, 20, said: “Every fashion show he did was pure magic. No one has managed to make women stand out like he did. He will be missed.”
Born in Piacenza in northern Italy, Armani originally enrolled in medical school before turning to fashion after working as a window dresser in Milan. He founded his eponymous label in 1975, which would go on to redefine global fashion with its understated elegance and sharp tailoring.
Often credited as the inventor of red-carpet fashion, Armani opened an office in Los Angeles in 1983 with the aim of dressing Hollywood stars. Over the decades, his creations graced actors, pop stars, royals, and statesmen, cementing his reputation as one of the most influential designers of the modern era.
Armani’s empire expanded far beyond clothing into haute couture, interior design, hotels, perfumes, and even chocolates, all while he maintained tight control over the brand. His 50th anniversary celebrations at Milan Fashion Week were due to take place later this month.
Despite having no children, Armani built a close-knit circle within his company. His nieces Roberta and Silvana, as well as nephew Andrea Camerana, are actively involved in the group, while his long-time associate Pantaleo Dell’Orco heads the men’s style office.
The city of Milan has declared the day of Armani’s funeral a day of mourning. In a statement, his family and employees pledged “to protect what he built and to carry his company forward in his memory.”
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The public viewing at Teatro Armani — a converted former Nestlé chocolate factory redesigned in 2001 by Armani himself — will continue through the weekend.
