Talent and dedication are aplenty in fashion, but few reach the heights scaled by Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, who turns 90 on 11 July.
The Italian designer’s journey in fashion began with a singular vision: to create timeless, elegant apparel for men and women that were resistant to changes in taste and norms, which he achieved by launching his eponymous label in 1975. Though he was moving against the grain by designing more androgynous silhouettes at a time where traditional gender norms were starting to fall apart, his foresight proved to be correct—the collections were an immediate hit with buyers and Hollywood royalty alike. Armani went on to design the costumes for films like American Gigolo in 1980, and in 1982, he fronted the April issue of Time magazine.
Today, almost 50 years after the launch of Giorgio Armani, the fashion brand continues to thrive alongside its portfolio of other brands such as Armani Beauty, Armani/Hotels and Armani/Casa, bringing signature house codes of measured glamour and understated luxury to its fans in a myriad of ways.
Behind Armani’s track record of immense success and dedication to producing objects of beauty is the designer’s unwavering philosophy towards fashion and life, which is informed by personal values of individuality and authenticity.
And what better way to learn from the designer than to look at his greatest musings? See a list of inspiring quotes from Giorgio Armani below.
On Fashion
“I liberated men and women from many constrictions, turning into the sartorial companion of an
epochal change.”
“My work today is perceived as being classic, but when I first started out, it was a break from the norm. Since then, I have continued to reinvent myself. I don’t change my style, but I allow it to evolve.”
“Fame is not what pushed me towards this path. It wasn’t money either—it can’t buy elegance.
Making things: that’s what has always motivated me.”
“What I really dislike is the fact that today fashion is mostly about entertainment and
communication, sometimes to the detriment of the product. Let’s not forget that we are here to
dress people with something authentic, useful, beautiful.”
“Individual style is the correct balance of knowing who you are, what works for you and how to develop your own personality.”
On Life
“I don’t have a formula to pass on. I always did it my own way. Even today, I hold my independence close. It’s what’s most precious to me. Passion. Risk. Tenacity. Consistency. This is my professional history.”
“What has stayed the same is my desire to express myself. Because in this rapidly changing world, you can be influenced, dragged in one direction or another, and lose your own identity.”
“Everything I do stems from a great passion combined with an almost maniacal attention to detail.
My vision of style is crystal clear and perfectly formed, and is reflected in everything that bears my
name.”
“Anyone who is passionate about what they do will have a better chance of connecting with future generations than those who simply follow transient trends. At least their work will have a distinctive character, and this is what people respond to, I believe.”
“The more successful I become, the more I want to remain like me, with my defects and insecurities.”
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