Heartbreaking Details Emerge About Giorgio Armani’s Health & Final Days

Giorgio Armani, the legendary Italian designer who transformed modern fashion, died in Milan on September 4 at the age of 91. His passing was confirmed by the Armani Group, which remembered him as the “creator, founder and tireless driving force” behind the brand.

Here’s a closer look at his final days and the health struggles he faced before his passing.

Armani’s Recent Health Struggles

(Photo by JULIEN DE ROSA/AFP via Getty Images)

In his later years, Armani faced health issues that occasionally forced him to step back from the runway. As per the Hollywood Reporter, in June 2025, he missed Milan Fashion Week for the first time in his career after being hospitalized with what was later revealed to be bronchitis.

“I oversaw every aspect of the show remotely via video link, from the fittings to the sequence and the makeup. Everything you will see has been done under my direction and carries my approval,” Armani assured attendees in an email at the time, as per Marca.

(Photo by BERTRAND GUAY/AFP via Getty Images)

Earlier in 2024, he had been briefly hospitalized before returning to greet guests after a show. As per The New York Times, just weeks before his 91st birthday, Armani was again admitted to the hospital with a lung infection, recovering at his Milan home on Via Borgonuovo.

Despite these challenges, he remained actively involved in his collections.

A Designer Who Worked Until the End

(Photo by Cedric Ribeiro/Getty Images)

Even as his health declined, Armani insisted on continuing to work. He admitted in interviews that “age is undoubtedly a factor to contend with” and called stepping back from work “inevitable.”

In his final interview with the Financial Times, Armani revealed his biggest regret: “My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family.” The self-confessed workaholic remained deeply involved in fittings, designs, and show preparations until his final months.

Succession Plans for the Armani Legacy

(Photo by DOUG KANTER/AFP via Getty Images)

In his later years, Armani carefully outlined his plans for the future of his company. “My plans for succession consist of a gradual transition of the responsibilities that I have always handled to those closest to me … such as Leo Dell’Orco, the members of my family and the entire working team,” he told the Financial Times.

Dell’Orco, Armani’s longtime collaborator and head of men’s design, was identified as a key figure in ensuring continuity, alongside nieces Silvana and Roberta Armani and nephew Andrea Camerana. Armani emphasized that he wanted the transition to be “organic and not a moment of rupture.”

Family, Farewell & Funeral Arrangements

Armani died surrounded by his family and Dell’Orco, his partner of 20 years. His relatives and colleagues issued a joint statement, saying:

“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.”

Fans will have the opportunity to honor Armani in Milan, where a public viewing of the funeral chamber will take place over the weekend. A private funeral for family and close friends will follow.

Armani’s passing marks the end of an era in fashion. Known as the king of Italian style, he left behind not just a billion-dollar empire, but a legacy of timeless elegance, innovation, and a vision that shaped the course of fashion for five decades.

The Armani Group confirmed his passing, honoring him as the “creator, founder and tireless driving force” behind the fashion empire.

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