Giorgio Armani - the Creative Genius

Individual Essay

Giorgio Armani is known as the father of Italian fashion, and the brand bearing his name counts among the most prestigious offerings in designer fashion today. Through this paper, I will detail how Armani has irreversibly transformed the fashion industry through his willingness to challenge norms, and his obsessive attention for detail. I have partitioned this essay into two major sections. The first section deals with the Armani story, and offers a glimpse into Giorgio Armani’s past and present. The second section relates this story to concepts of creativity, and offers a deeper insight into how Armani transformed the fashion industry.

I. The Story

Growing Up

Giorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, Italy in 1934, into a humble family of five. Being born at the height of Mussolini’s Fascist dictatorship, his childhood was largely sheltered. His father worked as an accountant, and it was his mother who was the dominant influence in his household.

His interest in fashion was engendered at a tender age, primarily influenced by his mother. Mrs. Armani would be dressed immaculately at all times, and would ensure that her children would be similarly attired. She wore a limited palette of muted colors, that were simple yet elegant. This is said to have inspired many of Armani’s creations, in particular, the women’s silk jacket that has become a staple Armani product.

Armani’s earliest fashion memory dates back to 1942. As a child growing up in the industrial city of Piacenza, he would dress in his finest for Sunday mass, and would squirm to the front of the pews to catch a whiff of the incense used in the church. He had a love for “harmony of the senses”, of sight, sound and smell, and this would prove to be a major influence in the future.

His foray into a creative industry may have been further influenced by his need for physical intimacy and self expression. His mother was a strict disciplinarian. In addition to this, Italy entered...