Giorgio Armani Biography
Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza in 1934 and spent his childhood and adolescence in this city, where he attended high school. Subsequently, he undertook university studies at the Faculty of Medicine of the State University of Milan, but dropped out after two years.
After leaving his studies, Armani found work in Milan as a "buyer" at the "La Rinascente" department store. Later, he works as a photographer's assistant and then accepts a position in a promotion office of a fashion agency. In this context, it has the opportunity to learn about and promote high-quality products from countries such as India, Japan and the United States, thus introducing elements of foreign cultures within the "Eurocentric" universe of Milanese fashion and of Italian consumers.
In 1964, despite the absence of specific training in the field of fashion, Armani designed the men's collection for Nino Cerruti. Encouraged by his friend and financial partner Sergio Galeotti, the designer decides to leave Cerruti and become a "freelance" fashion designer and consultant. Thanks to the numerous successes achieved, he decided to found his own production company with his own brand.
On 24 July 1975, Giorgio Armani spa was born and a line of "prêt-à-porter" clothing for both men and women was launched. The following year, Armani presented his first collection in the prestigious Sala Bianca in Florence, arousing great enthusiasm for his innovative "deconstructed" jackets and the original treatment of the leather inserts present in the garments dedicated to the casual line. His recognizable penchant for using materials in unexpected contexts and unusual combinations leads many to consider him a creative genius.
Giorgio Armani receives important recognitions in his career. In 1985, he was appointed Commander of the Italian Republic, in 1986 grand officer and in 1987 grand knight. In 1990, in Washington, he received an award from the animal rights association PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals). In 1991, the Royal College of Art in London awarded him an honorary degree. In 1994, in Washington, the NIAF (National Italian American Foundation) awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award. In 1998, the newspaper Il Sole 24 Ore awarded him the Results Award, an award reserved for Italian companies that create value and represent examples of successful entrepreneurial formulas.
