Giorgio Armani S.p.A.

Giorgio Armani S.p.A. (), commonly known as Armani, is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in Milan by Giorgio Armani which designs, manufactures, distributes and retails haute couture, ready-to-wear, leather goods, shoes, accessories, and home interiors. Among others, Armani licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear and L'Oréal for fragrances and cosmetics. It is considered Italy's third-biggest fashion group behind Gucci and Prada.

In addition to the couture line Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani are the company's ready-to-wear lines that show at Milan Fashion Week. Selling at lower prices are Armani Collezioni, Armani Exchange and Armani Jeans.

History

Armani and his partner, architect Sergio Galeotti, founded Giorgio Armani SpA in 1975, reportedly on money from the sale of Armani's Volkswagen.

Armani signed a license with Gruppo Finanziario Tessile (GFT) in 1978. The company also entered into a manufacturing and distribution license with Simint in 1991 when the company launched A, X Armani Exchange. By 1993, the Armani name was represented by 23 licensees and two large joint ventures in Japan.

By the 1990s, the company's strategy was to cancel licenses and take production in-house in a bid to exert more control over quality and distribution. Manufacturing arrangements later brought back in-house include the acquisition of Antinea (1990), Simint (1996) and Intai (1998). In 2000, after buying factories from GFT, Armani formed a joint venture with Zegna for the production and distribution of the Collezioni men's collection. Armani also increased to 85 percent of its share in the joint venture in Japan with Itochu.

In 2001, Armani commissioned architect Tadao Ando to transform an old Nestlé chocolate factory in Milan's Savona/Tortona area into the company's headquarters.

Also in the early 2000s, Armani opened five megastores designed by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, starting with the opening of the Armani/Manzoni store in Milan in 2000, which carries all of the company's brands. Other such venues are in Hong Kong (Armani/Chater House, opened in 2002), Munich (Armani/ Fünf Höfe, opened in 2003), Tokyo (Armani/Ginza Tower, opened in 2007) and New York City (Armani/Fifth Avenue, opened in 2009).

In 2002, Armani announced a new joint venture with the shoe manufacturer I Guardi, as part of a strategy of bringing manufacturing under its control. Beginning in 2007, the company teamed up with Samsung to develop a line of high-end electronic goods.

In 2007, Giorgio Armani confirmed to ''Reuters'' that he had been approached by Beiersdorf in 2005 about a potential merger but had since been too distracted by other projects to pursue that option. In 2016, he confirmed he had established the Giorgio Armani Foundation which, while aiming to fund social projects, is also to "safeguard the governance assets of the Armani Group and ensure that these assets are kept stable over time." As part of his succession plan, the foundation will own an undisclosed stake in the company, with the rest going to his family. By 2017, the company was seen as a prime candidate for a stock market listing. In 2021, Giorgio Armani ruled out merging with either LVMH or Kering and reportedly also ruled out an offer by Stellantis to acquire a minority stake.

In February 2020, Armani was the first fashion brand to decide to close its runway shows to the public amid the beginning COVID-19 pandemic, holding the event without an audience. By March 2020, all of its Italian production plants started producing single-use medical overalls.

In 2021, luxury yacht maker The Italian Sea Group announced that Giorgio Armani SpA would invest in the company's IPO at the Italian Bourse.

Despite promising to suspend investments in Russia, Giorgio Armani continues to operate in the country amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine. While the brand held a silent Milan Fashion Week show in February 2022 as a "sign of respect" for Ukraine, it has not reduced its activities or signaled plans to exit the Russian market. This ongoing presence has drawn criticism as international sanctions target Russia for its aggression and the killing of civilians in Ukraine. Giorgio Armani is among several European companies that remain operational in Russia, sparking questions about their ethical and corporate responsibilities during the conflict.

Brands

Giorgio Armani

''Giorgio Armani'' (originally Giorgio Armani Borgonuovo) is a high-end label specializing in men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories, glasses, cosmetics, and perfumes. It is available only in Giorgio Armani boutiques, speciality clothiers and selects high-end department stores. The logo is a curved "G" completing a curved "A", forming a circle.

In 2001, Armani created a joint venture with Vestimenta for the production of the men's and women's Borgonuovo line.

Giorgio Armani worked with Albert Wolsky for '' Duplicity'' (2009), with Lindy Hemming on the costumes for the cast of both ''The Dark Knight'' (2008) and ''The Dark Knight Rises'' (2012), with April Ferry for ''Elysium'' (2013) and with Sandy Powell for '' The Wolf of Wall Street'' (2013). Other costume design projects have included ''American Gigolo'' (1980), ''The Untouchables'' (1987), '' A Star for Two'' (1991), '' The Bodyguard'' (1992), ''Nirvana'' (1997), ''Hurlyburly'' (1998), ''Ocean's Thirteen'' (2007), ''Inglourious Basterds'' (2009), '' The String'' (2009), '' Hanna'' (2011), '' Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol'' (2011), ''A Most Violent Year'' (2014) and ''The Young Pope'' (2016).

In 2016, Giorgio Armani stopped using animal fur in all of its collections, citing the availability of "valid alternatives at our disposition that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary as regards animals."

For its campaigns, the brand has worked with photographers including Sølve Sundsbø (2015), Peter Lindbergh (2017) and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott (2019).

Armani Collezioni

Established in 1979, ''Armani Collezioni'' (known as ''Giorgio Armani Le Collezioni'' for women and ''Mani'' for men before 2000) was the diffusion line of Giorgio Armani that retailed at a lower price than ''Giorgio Armani'' and the haute couture line, ''Armani Privé''. The logo was usually displayed in black and written on a white label but often varies. "Armani" being larger and "Collezioni" underneath it.

Armani Collezioni provided made-to-measure tailored suits and shirts where every element can be chosen. In addition to being sold in the two freestanding boutiques (which feature the ''Collezioni'' line exclusively) in Milan and Paris, ''Armani Collezioni'' was usually sold in department stores and outlets while Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani are only sold in freestanding boutiques. A sporty line of the label has appeared named "Armani Collezioni Active" in the same way as the EA7 line from the Emporio Armani line.

As part of a restructuring in 2017, Armani Collezioni – alongside Armani Jeans – was folded into Emporio Armani.

Armani Privé

Previously labeled Giorgio Armani Atelier, Armani Privé is the label for the designer’s made-to-order pieces. Under the Privé label, the brand offers a couture collection, fragrances and jewelry.

Beauty products

In 1980, Armani partnered with L'Oreal on a licensing agreement for the production and distribution of fragrances, cosmetics and beauty products in 1980 It launched its first women's fragrance in 1982 and its first men's fragrance in 1984.

Over the years, cosmetics campaigns featured Beyoncé (2008), Kasia Smutniak (2009), Megan Fox (2010), Cate Blanchett (2013), Valentina Sampaio (2021), Tessa Thompson (2022), Regé-Jean Page (2022), Sydney Sweeney (2023) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (2024).

Emporio Armani

Established in 1981, ''Emporio Armani'' is the second brand of the Armani family and features ready-to-wear and runway collections. Emporio Armani focuses on trends and modern traits. Also, ''Emporio Armani'', along with ''Giorgio Armani'', are the only two ready-to-wear brands that are mainly designed by Giorgio Armani himself, and have a spotlight at Milan Fashion Week every year while Armani Collezioni, Armani Jeans, and Armani Exchange do not. Emporio Armani products are usually only sold in freestanding Emporio Armani boutiques and on the official website.

Over the years, Emporio Armani underwear campaigns featured David Beckham (2008–2010), Victoria Beckham (2009), Cristiano Ronaldo (2010), Megan Fox (2010), Rihanna (2011), Rafael Nadal (2011) and Calvin Harris (2015). The brand's watch ad campaign has featured Shawn Mendes (2019), among others. For its campaigns, the brand has worked with photographers including Alasdair McLellan (2012) and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott. In 2013, Emporio Armani partnered with 21st Century Fox on the costumes for the cast of ''The Counselor''.

EA7

In 2004, Emporio Armani also teamed up with Reebok to create fashion shoes under the label ''EA7''. Emporio Armani is also the official kit supplier of Italian football side SSC Napoli under its ''EA7'' brand. On the basketball side, they are the title sponsor and kit supplier of Olimpia Milano, and from the 2023/24 season also became the official kit supplier of Blu Basket 1971.

Armani Jeans

Established in 1981, Armani Jeans was a full casual sportswear collection. From 1997 on, the brand started to operate standalone stores.

As part of a restructuring in 2017, Armani Jeans – alongside Armani Collezioni – was folded into Emporio Armani.

Giorgio Armani Occhiali

In 1987, Giorgio Armani Occhiali was established. In 1988, the company entered into a licensing agreement with Luxottica for eyewear. From 2003 until 2012, Safilo Group held the exclusive license for Armani-branded eyewear before losing it again to Luxottica until 2037. As part of the brand's first-ever eyewear collection in 2021, it presented a pair of oval-shaped wire-rimmed silver glasses that Giorgio Armani has worn, in sunglass and reading form, since the late 1980s.

Armani Exchange

''A, X Armani Exchange'' was launched in 1991 in the U.S. It retails fashion and lifestyle products and is known for its occasionally provocative ad campaigns. Inspired by street-chic culture and dance music, it is targeted as the more accessible Armani brand.

A, X Armani Exchange products are available exclusively in 270 stores in 31 countries and on the brand's website. The line was a pioneer in online communication and retailing, launching its armaniexchange.com site in 1995 and adding online sales in 1997.

To accelerate the development of the nascent line, Giorgio Armani co-established the joint venture company Presidio Holdings Ltd in 2005 alongside Como Holdings, the company owned by the Singaporean tycoon Ong Beng Seng that, since 1994, has held the production and distribution license for A, X Armani Exchange in the United States, Canada, Central and South America and Asia-Pacific. By 2006, A, X Armani Exchange launched a sunglasses line under license with Safilo.

Initially, the company held 25% of Presidio Holdings, with the remaining 75% being in the hands of Como Holdings. In 2008, Giorgio Armani acquired an additional 25% stake. In 2014, it acquired the remaining 50% "ensuring full ownership of the brand, which has 270 stores and over 3,000 employees", the company said in a statement.

In 2008, A, X Armani Exchange redesigned its logo. As part of a relaunch and repositioning plan initiated in 2014, the collection was gradually introduced in Europe, too.

Over the years, A, X Armani Exchange campaigns featured Cara Delevingne (2017), Martin Garrix (2017) and Li Yifeng (2017).

Armani Junior and Armani Baby

Armani designs products for babies, toddlers, and teenagers under the labels ''Armani Junior'' (ages five to 14) and ''Armani Baby'' (for children up to the age of four). The ''Armani Junior'' brand was introduced in 1979. The junior line consists of baby clothing, accessories, T-shirts, pullovers, suits, shoes, hats, shirts, belts, bags, and underwear. In 2006, Giorgio Armani signed a licensing agreement with Mirella Srl for the production and distribution of the two lines’ footwear.

''Armani Junior'' has 167 independent boutiques around the globe, which only sell the sub-label. The label is also sold in other stores by the label including ''Armani/Casa'', ''Armani Jeans'' or ''Emporio Armani''. In total, 308 independent and franchise ''Armani'' stores sell the ''Armani Junior'' and ''Armani Baby'' products throughout the whole world. In addition, the label is available in selected department stores everywhere in the world, for example, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue, Breuninger and Peek & Cloppenburg.

In May 2014, actress Quvenzhané Wallis was named the face of ''Armani Junior''.

Giorgio Armani Neve

Launched in 1995, Armani developed a collection of men's and women's skiwear and apres-ski casualwear called Giorgio Armani Neve, produced by the Skinea company, a division of Gruppo Belfe. It was re-launched in 2022.

Giorgio Armani Orologi

Giorgio Armani Orologi was established in 1997. In 2014, the company entered into a licensing agreement with Fossil for watches and jewelry. In 2021, Giorgio Armani launched a namesake fine watches collection in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier, the first such project for the designer.

Armani/Casa

The ''Armani'' label also consists of a furniture and home collection called ''Armani/Casa''. While the Italian word "casa" usually means "house", its usage here instead means "at home". Giorgio Armani launched his interior design collection in 2000 with a flagship store opening in Milan, Italy the same year. When Armani was asked about why he wanted a furniture line, Armani said that he wanted "people to design their own private home". "Designing this furniture and home collection helped me to stimulate my creative and artistic vein", Armani said. Critics responded very positively to the ''Armani/Casa'' label calling the style "simply elegant, a little retro with Ethno elements" to it. A lot of critics also liked the fact that there are only a "few ornaments" used but with "artistic detail" which seems to have a "tremendous effect on the style and furniture" itself.

Armani collaborates with ''Rubelli'' and the ''Molteni'' Group to build the home collection. As the ''Architectural Digest'' reported in February 2012, ''Armani/Casa'' includes state-of-the-art kitchens, sold under the ''Armani/Dada'' name – a partnership with ''Molteni'' Group, as well as luxurious fabrics produced in collaboration with ''Rubelli''. ''Armani/Roca'' is a partnership with Roca, which provides Giorgio Armani with bathroom furniture and accessories. The sub-label consisting of variegated products is sold in 183 independent ''Armani'' stores as well as selected retailers throughout the world.

''Armani/Casa'' is used in the ''Armani'' hotels, equipped John Mayers New York City apartment and decorated the scenes for the 2013 film ''Paranoia''.

As part of a restructuring in 2017, Armani Casa – alongside Giorgio Armani Privé – was folded into Giorgio Armani.

Armani/Dolci

Confectionery is also under the ''Armani'' name. The brand was established in 2002. For the creations and collections, ''Armani'' collaborates with the Italian chocolate manufacturer ''Guido Gobino''.

''Armani/Dolci'' sells chocolates, jams, honey, tea, shortbread biscuits, sugar and pralines. The brand is mostly part of other ''Armani'' stores but has an independent boutique in Taichung, Taiwan. In total, 152 stores sell ''Armani/Dolci'' products.

Over the years, Armani created various limited ''Armani/Dolci'' products to celebrate special occasions. For example, Armani designed chocolate Easter eggs, heart-shaped boxes with red, pink and lilac chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day, as well as a Ramadan collection for the Muslim holiday featuring refined colors of Islamic art and no alcohol. In addition, ''Armani/Dolci'' sells special delicate collections for Christmas and its significant anniversaries.

The Armani/Dolci brand is well received by both critics and the public.

Armani/Fiori

The Giorgio Armani label also has a florist under its name, called ''Armani/Fiori''. The exclusive floral service has been active since 2000 in major independent flower boutiques and other ''Armani'' stores around the world.

The flowers used for the ''Armani/Fiori'' arrangements come mostly from the Netherlands. The label uses a large selection of orchids, as well as exotic and tropical flowers alongside more traditional flowers such as hydrangeas, roses and peonies. Each collection is personally designed by Giorgio Armani himself as he wants to transport an "Asian feel". In addition, ''Armani/Fiori'' offers decorative elements like vases, flowerpots, candles and lanterns. For the collections, Armani uses precious materials like alabaster, black marble, and lacquered wood in the shape of cylinders, cubes, and rhomboids. Giorgio Armani also designed special floral arrangements for occasions like Valentine's Day and spring collections. The label's floral arrangements are used in the ''Armani'' hotels.

Armani/Hotels

Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties PJSC signed an agreement in 2005 for Emaar Properties PJSC to build and operate at least seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts under the ''Armani'' name. Armani would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the interior design and style of the hotels. The ''Armani'' Hotel was opened in Burj Khalifa on April 27, 2010, comprising the bottom 39 floors of the supertall skyscraper in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. It has 160 guest rooms and suites, and 144 residences. Giorgio Armani also designed the interiors of the ''Armani'' Residences, also within the skyscraper, and its specially designed line of products from the ''Armani/Casa'' home furnishings collection and the ''Armani/Fiori'' flower arrangements. The "Burj Khalifa Armani Residences Road Show" toured Milan, London, Jeddah, Moscow and New Delhi. The London event was housed in the Armani Casa Showroom in New Bond Street.

The second club opened in 2011 in Milan. The hotel is located in a palazzo on Via Manzoni in the heart of the city.

Armani/Privé Club

Armani operates two luxury clubs under the Armani/Privé name in both Milan and Dubai. According to its website, "Armani/Privé prides itself on primely located clubs at the cutting edge of the city's nightlife scene, setting the bar high by attracting internationally acclaimed resident DJs that play the latest beats to a carefully selected crowd, sipping on signature cocktails."

Luggage

In 1994, Giorgio Armani signed a license agreement with Redwall to produce and distribute bags and small leather luggage products for the Borgonuovo, Giorgio Armani Collezioni and Emporio Armani lines. In 2008, Giorgio Armani launched its Luxury Traveller Collection of men's and women's handcrafted luggage.

Jewelry

In 2019, Giorgio Armani Privé Haute Jewellery made its debut in New York. The same year, Giorgio Armani presented its first high jewelry collection. The 2022 "Josephine" collection, inspired by Joséphine de Beauharnais, incorporated paisley motifs with chalcedony and grey diamonds. His fine jewelry has since been worn by celebrities, including Sophia Loren, Brie Larson, and Brooke Shields, at high-profile events.

Social responsibility

In 2006, Emporio Armani became a partner of the global Product Red initiative, founded by Bono and Bobby Shriver to fight AIDS in Africa. In 2011, the Acqua For Life project was launched, in collaboration with Giorgio Armani Parfums, Green Cross International, and UNICEF: for every bottle of Acqua di Giò sold, $1 is donated, up to $50,000, to the UNICEF "UNICEF Tab Project", which aims to provide clean water to children in African countries. Finally, in conjunction with the Cannes Film Festival in 2012, an important collaboration with J/P HRO (Haitian Relief Organization) was launched.

The Armani fashion house was one of the first to support international guidelines for a concept of sustainable fashion at the social and environmental level, starting to work on a production system that can protect the health of the planet, focusing on the production of garments that can be durable over time.

In 2020, Giorgio Armani was awarded the "Fashion Dresses Peace" award, a public recognition awarded to authoritative figures who have distinguished themselves for their commitment to inclusion or against discrimination and racism, promoted by the African Fashion Gate social promotion association.

In 2020, Giorgio Armani donated a total of €2,000,000 to several Italian hospitals (Luigi Sacco, San Raffaele and Institute of Oncology hospitals in Milan, Spallanzani in Rome, Humanitas Gavazzeni in Bergamo, Guglielmo di Saliceto in Piacenza, Versilia in Lido di Camaiore) and to the Civil Protection to combat the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic and converted its production facilities into facilities for the production of disposable gowns.

Sponsoring and philanthropy

In 2015, Armani opened Armani/Silos, an exhibition space in Milan that has in the past staged solo exhibitions of Larry Fink (2017), Sarah Moon (2018), Paolo Ventura (2018), Tadao Ando (2019) and Peter Lindbergh (2020).

Armani Beauty has been a major supporter of the Venice Film Festival since 2018 and was the event's main sponsor in 2019. On 2021, Armani introduced a new special award for the Festival, the "Audience Award - Armani beauty, Orizzonti Extra". In that edition, one of the brand's sponsor actresses was Laura Haddock, who took part in the campaign created by Harper's Bazaar and ORBIS Production.

Also in 2019, A, X Armani Exchange became the first fashion brand to debut in the world of e-sports — professional multiplayer video game competitions — when it sponsored the Italian team Makers for the 2019–20 season.

Among others, Armani designed suits for Italy's delegations to the 2009 FINA World Aquatics Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics as well as for the country's national football team at the UEFA Euro 2020. Since 2021, the company has been a sponsor of the Scuderia Ferrari, supplying formal attire and travel wear to the Ferrari team's management, drivers and technicians to be worn at official events and during transfers linked to Formula One's Grand Prix international races. The company also makes kits for Serie A football side Napoli under its EA7 brand. On the basket side, is the title sponsor and kit supplier of Olimpia Milano and from the 2023 -2024 season also became the official kit supplier of Blu Basket 1971. At the ATP Tour circuit, Armani dressed so many professional players like Simone Bolelli, Fabio Fognini and Lorenzo Sonego.

Sustainability

Armani banned animal fur in 2016 and signed in the "Fashion Pact" with other major industry players to address climate change in 2019. In 2021, the Group enhanced its Sustainability Department by employing a Group Director and launching a new sustainability strategy based on the three pillars "People, Planet, Prosperity". The Group has defined concrete objectives within the company and along the entire value chain, in line with the ESG approach (Environmental, Social, Governance) and with the objectives of the Fashion Pact joined in 2019. They have launched sustainable capsules with yarns and fabrics made of materials such as recycled polyester and organic cotton. Moreover, they communicated their commitment to no longer using angora wool starting from the 2022-23 Autumn/Winter season.

Controversy

In 1999, the ''New York Times'' and others raised concerns about a generous donation made by Giorgio Armani SpA to the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York shortly before the museum announced that it would pay homage to Armani himself with a major retrospective of his work.

In a 2014 report, Greenpeace publicly criticized Armani and other luxury brands after having found traces of chemicals that can pollute waterways in children's clothing and shoes; in response, the company committed to abolishing all chemicals that could cause environmental damage to production sites by 2020. Also in 2014, Giorgio Armani SpA paid 270 million euros to Italian tax authorities to settle a dispute over payments from the group's subsidiaries abroad.

In 2015, Giorgio Armani Corp's former general counsel Fabio Silva filed a $75 million lawsuit in the New York Supreme Court against the company, accusing it of discriminating against him because of his Mexican origins and firing him for having cancer.

On July 17, 2024, the Italian competition authority, Autorità Garante della Concorrenza e del Mercato (AGCM), announced the launch of an investigation into Armani and Dior. The probe aims to determine whether these companies potentially misled consumers regarding their labor practices and supply chain management. Prosecutors claim to have discovered workshops on the outskirts of Milan where mostly illegal immigrant workers sold products to Armani as well as Dior for a fraction of their retail price.

See also

*Made in Italy

References

Further reading

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External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Armani, Giorgio

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