Giorgio Armani’s Will: Legacy, Control, and the Risk of a New Era

Bonjour fashion lovers,

The opening of Giorgio Armani’s will has shaken the fashion world with the same elegance and quiet authority that defined his career. For decades, Armani fiercely protected the independence of his maison, resisting the pull of conglomerates and the stock market. And yet, in his final act, he outlined a precise, gradual plan that could lead to the partial sale of his empire—while entrusting his legacy to the Giorgio Armani Foundation.

The will, composed of two notarized documents dated March and April 2025, sets both the division of assets among family members and trusted collaborators, and the route for the company’s future. Pantaleo Dell’Orco, the designer’s right hand, receives 40% of the voting rights. The Foundation, created in 2016, remains the moral guardian of the brand. His sister Rosanna, his nieces, and Andrea Camerana are also beneficiaries, while villas, properties, and personal assets are assigned with the same precision.

The heart of the will, however, is a bold directive: within 18 months, 15% of Giorgio Armani S.p.A. must be sold. Between three and five years later, an additional 30% to 54.9% should be transferred—to the same buyer or via an IPO. Preferred suitors include giants such as LVMH, L’Oréal, and EssilorLuxottica, partners Armani respected in his lifetime.

Reactions are divided. On one side, some underscore the foresight of securing a strong financial future for the maison, enabling innovation and growth with top-tier international partners. On the other, many see a contradiction: Armani built his empire defending autonomy, and this plan could expose the brand to the very conglomerate logic he long resisted.

Personally, I’m conflicted. Giorgio Armani has always been, to me, the ultimate symbol of independence and uncompromising elegance. Imagining his name one day housed within a sprawling group makes me reflect on how fragile the idea of autonomy has become in contemporary fashion.

Still, the values inscribed in his will remain non-negotiable: elegance that is never ostentatious, innovation anchored in quality, an ethical approach to work, and integrity as the foundation of style. The Giorgio Armani Foundation is tasked with safeguarding these principles to ensure the brand does not lose its identity through the transitions ahead.

In the end, Armani’s will is more than a legal instrument; it is a statement of intent. It acknowledges the complexity of today’s fashion industry, where independence is fragile and the future demands new forms of strength.

I loved Armani not only as a designer but as a lodestar. I still remember his alchemy of simplicity—those soft jackets, that rigor without ostentation—turning restraint into a universal language of power and refinement. That is the Giorgio Armani I will carry with me, beyond documents and market strategies.

Always Fashion, Always Black, Always Paris,
Emanuela