Armani History
Giorgio Armani is the world's second largest selling designer (the first is Ralph Lauren) who sells approx. £1.45 billion per year retail.
His products are sold in over 100 countries.
1934
Giorgio Armani was born in Piacanza, Italy, close to Milan. His father was a transport manager for a shipping company. His mother made all the family's clothes.
Giorgio Armani went to the local public school and developed a love for the
theatre and cinema.
From 1952 to 1953
Armani joined the Military service
In 1954 -1957
After a short stint at the University of Milan medical school, he took a job at the Milan department store La Rinascente as a window dresser.
He later revealed that he developed his classic style during this time, following frequent trips to the UK.
England was virtually the most important centre for inspiration, he says.
When I was working for Il Rinascente we used to travel to London for the influences, to see the shops, to learn.
I remember seeing some yellow cardigans in a small boutique and bringing them to Il Rinascente and everyone thought I was insane.
Yellow cardigans were what the Duke of Windsor was about; they were not something for the average man.
The entire idea of such clothing was so outré, so elitist... very, very English.
After working for some time, they found that his window arrangements were too radical for his superiors, so they moved him to the purchasing department,
where he learnt how to select fabrics. He became Junior Buyer.
1964
As a junior buyer he gained an in-depth knowledge of fabric and design,
so he left the Milan department store and was taken on as a designer for Nino Cerruti's men's clothing company, Hitman.
Posts at Ungaro and Zegna were soon to follow.
1974
Armani introduced his own menswear label his first women swear collection coming a year later.
197O
Armani started a company with his friend Sergio Galeotti, who was an architectural draftsman.
For five years, they freelanced with various manufacturers and designed for others.
He made women’s clothes for Tendresse, mannish coats , a ready-to-wear house in Florence and also made two menswear collections
for Emanuel Ungaro, from whom he learned the good cutting techniques he needed.
1974
Giorgio held the first show in his own name.
Since 1975, Armani has overseen the launch of Giorgio Armani Junior, Underwear, Swimwear, Accessories and Occhiali.
Capitalizing on the cachet of his more exclusive label,
he opened the first of a series of stores selling his cheaper diffusion lines, Emporio Armani and Armani Jeans, in 1981.
In 2000
He added a new make-up range to his output, specially designed by Pat McGrath.
Today, the Armani Empire comprises some 2,000 emporia. The magazine Forbes declared Giorgio Armani to be the world's most successful designer,
with personal earnings of $135 million in 1999.
In 2001
The magazine put him at No.19 (behind the Bulgari family and ahead of the Pradas) on a list of Fashion's New Aristocrats.
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Accessories
Belts
