LEGENDARY fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died, his company has said.
The Italian billionaire, who was 91, passed away peacefully at home on Thursday.
Armani was one of the most recognisable names in fashion, with his fashion house known for its modern Italian style, most notably his signature "Armani suit" in the late 1970s and his female "power suit", which was launched in the 1980s.
A statement from the Armani Group on Thursday said: "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."
The group said Armani had become "a beloved and respected figure" throughout his career, and that he "always made independence – of thought and action – his hallmark".
"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," the statement added.
The statement continued: “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.”
A funeral chamber will be set up in Milan on Saturday and Sunday, which will be followed by a private ceremony on an unspecified date.
Armani missed his shows at Milan Fashion Week for the first time ever in June as he was recovering from an unknown illness.
He is often accredited with spearheading red carpet fashion and his Milan event was set to mark 50 years of his brand.
His company was worth more than £7.44 billion at the time of his death.
