Giorgio Armani he is a true icon of global fashion. Since 1975, the year in which he began his career as a stylist, Armani has managed to export Made in Italy throughout the world, becoming one of the most influential names in the fashion sector.
The entrepreneur and founder of the famous brand that bears his name, was ranked Armani Forbes in 2022 as the second richest man in Italy, with an estimated wealth of 11 billion dollars. Last July 11, the designer celebrated the milestone of 90 years old and he spoke about it in an exclusive interview with Corriere della Sera.
Youth
Born in Piacenza on 11 July 1934, Armani experienced the fascist dictatorship as a child: «In the family we often talked about it, and two different views were compared. The main thing was that we could not reject the system: you were either part of it, or you were cut off. Then there were good things too. They organized our lives a little. The trips to the countryside to distribute the bread, the summer camps, the theater shows organized by the after-work club… We children had a bit of fun.”
As the iconic designer revealed, due to an accident he was at risk of losing his sight: «After the war the children went around collecting gunpowder. One of my friends took a package, lit a fuse… I looked out into the street to see what was happening and the fire took off completely.
I stayed in hospital for twenty days, I was in danger of losing my sight.”
A heartbreaking tragic story told by Armani who had a girlfriend at the age of 8, her name was Wanda, who lost her life very much: «I was 7, 8 years old. Wanda lived three blocks from me and was a little girl with an exotic look, with a slightly ethnic complex: straight hair, parted in the middle, a bit like girls today. She was my little girl. She was crushed to death by a truck. A truck went over, she crossed the road, she didn’t realize there was another truck behind it, which hit her here, in the cerebellum.”
The first time
Armani also said that it was his first time with a girl who was not particularly beautiful: «In fact it was not the best … but he helped me when I was at the desk being questioned. She praised me from the desk, because it seems I was a bit of an ass… My student was interviewed and said that “Mr. Armani was a real ass”. It hurts me a lot. It wasn’t nice to say that.”
He continues to reveal his first male love as well: «I have never spoken about this. (Armani remains silent for a long time). He was surrounded by the beach of Misano Mare, at 5 in the afternoon, when all the children from the colony were allowed to go to the beach to rest.” Feeling that Armani had difficulty distinguishing, he was not afraid of him because he was not he was really aware of it: «No, I wasn’t aware of it, I didn’t understand what it was, I didn’t distinguish between men and women can’t wait to be close to him, to let me worry… great feeling. I’ve never said these things to anyone. It’s a very emotional memory.”
Love by Sergio Galeotti
Partner and companion, Sergio Galeotti It showed a lot in the life of Giorgio Armani. Who died in 1985, when he was only 40 years old, he was a source of inspiration for the designer: « We met near La Capannina, in Versilia, where I was on holiday for two days. I met Sergio in the car, I immediately liked his Tuscan smile, and we immediately became friends. He gave me courage, confidence. He told me: you have important potential. Sergio had seen my clothes, he understood that I could go further. Back then the fashion world in Milan was somewhat managed by adults. I was young, I had different motivations.”
The death of his partner left an indelible mark on Armani’s life: «When Sergio died, a part of me died. I have to say that I congratulate myself a little, because I resisted a very strong pain. A year between one hospital and another, in order not to lose him I continued to work, I gave him photos of the fashion shows, recently I saw tears in his eyes. It was an extremely difficult moment, something I had to overcome even against public opinion. I have heard people say: He is no longer Armani, he will be overwhelmed by pain, he will not do it alone … Also for this reason, for those who asked me about Giorgio Armani, I answered: No, thank you, I can do it myself”.
His death happened just when the two were building something important together: «I had the incredible power to overcome this cruel pain. A year waiting for Sergio to die. And it all happened at a great time, when we were starting to be somebody, to give structure to the company, to be known all over the world. It was the moment I found confidence in myself; and this slab landed on my head.”
Today’s love and childlessness
For years Armani has lived together Leo Dell’Orco and he spoke in this way about his love life at the moment: «It is not worth being in love and giving a little space to your love, because I don’t have the space. Except for the deep affection for Leo Dell’Orco, with whom I have lived for many years, and who represents the closest person to me.”
The lack of children certainly does not make him indifferent: «One of my employees, Michele, has a five-year-old girl, whom I love, I think she is almost like mine, and this made me realize that I would be an excellent father. . Her name is Bianca.”
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