Armani, Giorgio << ahr MAH nee, JAWR jee oh >> (1934-…), is a leading Italian fashion designer. He designs for both men and women. Armani’s clothes have a soft, fluid silhouette that became his signature and one of the most important fashion trends of the late 1900’s. Armani uses beautiful textiles to give special distinction to his clothes.
Armani was born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy. He began his career as an assistant buyer for a major Italian department store. He then worked with Italian designer Nino Cerruti in 1961. After free-lancing for a number of manufacturers, Armani introduced his first menswear collection in 1974. The collection created a sensation with a style known as the unconstructed jacket–a loose-fitting jacket with no lining or shoulder pads. Armani adapted his style for a line of women’s clothes in 1975 when he formed his own company with Italian businessman Sergio Galeotti. To ready-to-wear clothing, Armani’s company brought exceptional fabric quality, elegance, and a revolutionary emphasis on comfort and informality in tailoring.
