Milan Mourns the Loss of Fashion Icon Giorgio Armani
More than 15 thousand people from all corners of Italy descended upon Milan over the weekend to bid a final farewell to the legendary Giorgio Armani.
The funeral chamber, honoring the designer who passed away at 91, was erected at the Armani Theatre, the iconic venue that has hosted the Prêt-à-porter shows of the esteemed fashion house established half a century ago.
On Saturday, over six thousand individuals, including Milan’s mayor and renowned designer Donatella Versace, paid their respects in the candlelit theatre adorned with white roses. The following day, a queue formed as early as 7 am to enter the chamber and honor Armani’s legacy.
Notable figures in attendance for the designer’s final goodbye included fashion luminaries Luisa Lusardi of Max Mara, Santo Versace, Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2, as well as Lombardy’s president Attilio Fontana, who hailed Armani as ‘a Lombard excellence, a genius, and a remarkable entrepreneur’. The Minister of University and Research, Anna Maria Bernini, and entrepreneur Aurelio De Laurentiis, owner of Napoli, also paid their respects. Armani’s EA7 brand famously outfitted the football team’s uniforms, further solidifying his impact beyond the fashion realm. A mix of showbiz and sports personalities such as Isabella Ferrari, Afef Jnifen, Cristina Parodi, Federica Pellegrini, and Marco Tardelli also gathered to honor the late designer.
“He was always distinguished by his elegance, style, and above all, his simplicity, the restraint with which he approached every situation, showing utmost respect for all those around him. He should serve as an example for all of us, for Italy, for our future. We should always remember him for his remarkable ability to achieve greatness through simplicity,” shared Milan resident Christian Moncada.
Alfonso Di Gennaro, who traveled from Turin, expressed his admiration for Armani, calling him ‘a great man’. “We have been his customers for a lifetime. I came all the way from Turin to bid him farewell. I even had the privilege of meeting him in person. I had him sign my wife’s arm, which I later got tattooed. What could be more fitting than to come here and say goodbye to him? He truly deserves it.”
The funeral is scheduled for Monday afternoon in a private ceremony in Rivalta di Gazzola, Piacenza, where Armani will be laid to rest in the family chapel alongside his mother Maria, father Ugo, and brother Sergio.
The village will be heavily secured for the occasion. Armani frequented Rivalta to visit the family tomb and enjoy ‘tortelli con la coda’ at the Locanda del Falco, as reported by Ansa agency.
Milan will once again honor ‘King Giorgio’ on September 28th during a fashion show commemorating the fashion house’s 50th anniversary, set to take place at Palazzo Brera. — Euronews
