Legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani dies aged 91

Giorgio Armani, iconic fashion designer, has died aged 91 (Picture: Metro / Getty)

Legendary fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died at the age of 91.

He served as the head of the eponymous brand, and has dressed some of the biggest names in the world, including Lady Gaga, Julia Roberts and George Clooney.

The news of his death was confirmed in a statement by the fashion house earlier today, and comes months after he was forced to miss his traditional bow during a show at Men’s Fashion Week in June.

‘With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,’ it read.

‘Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.

‘Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.’

His funeral will be held privately, his family confirmed (Picture: WireImage) Giorgio has worked with some of the biggest names in fashion, including Naomi Campbell (Picture: Getty)

‘Over the years, Giorgio Armani has crafted a vision that expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism,’ the message continued. ‘He has been driven by relentless curiosity and a deep attention to the present and to people.

‘Along this journey, he established an open dialogue with the public, becoming a beloved and respected figure for his ability to connect with everyone. Always mindful of the needs of the community, he has been active on many fronts, especially in support of his beloved Milan.

‘Giorgio Armani is a company with fifty years of history, built with emotion and patience. Giorgio Armani always made independence – of thought and action – his hallmark.

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‘The company is, now and always, a reflection of this spirit. His family and employees will carry the Group forward in respect and continuity of these values.’

A separate message, from his employees and his family, added: ‘In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication.

‘But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.’

The Armani Group announced his passing with a touching statement (Picture: AFP) Tributes poured in for Giorgio on social media (Picture: Getty)

A funeral chamber will be set up from 9am to 6pm on Saturday and Sunday at Via Bergognone 59 in Milan.

His funeral will be held privately, ‘in accordance with his explicit wishes’.

Armani’s cause of death has yet to be confirmed.

In June, Armani sparked concern after he missed both the Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani shows at Men’s Fashion Week in Milan, with a spokesperson stating that he was ‘recovering at home’.

It marked the first time in his career that he had missed a runway event for his own brands, while Leo Dell’Orco took his place.

‘Mr. Armani has worked with his usual dedication on the collections that will be presented. Although he cannot be there in person, he will closely follow every phase of the shows,’ the message read at the time.

According to AP, despite his absence, he kept a keen eye on the proceedings from home, and watched a live stream of the show while recovering from an ‘undisclosed condition’.

This is a breaking news story, more to follow soon… Check back shortly for further updates.

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