Giorgio Di Giorgio Armani

Place: Piacenza

Born: 1934

Biography:

Giorgio Armani is an Italian fashion designer, born on July 11, 1934 in Piacenza, Italy. He first gained renown working for Cerruti and then for many others, including Allegri, Bagutta, and Hilton. He formed his company, Armani, in 1975, which eventually expanded into music, sport, and luxury hotels. By 2001, Armani was acclaimed as the most successful designer of Italian origin, and is credited with pioneering red-carpet fashion. He is known for being notoriously private and has remained relatively quiet about his own sexuality. The Sunday Times speculates he has remained quiet on the subject out of fear sales of Armani might decline in Asia if he officially came out. However, in 2000 he told Vanity Fair, 'I have had women in my life. And sometimes men.' He is considered Italy's third-biggest fashion group behind Gucci and Prada.