From Hospital Work to a Global Fashion Empire
Giorgio Armani was born in 1934 in Piacenza, Italy and first wanted to become a doctor. After living through World War II as a child, he saw many people get hurt, which made him want to help others. He studied medicine at the University of Milan but quit after three years when he lost interest. He then joined the military and worked as a hospital orderly in Verona, helping doctors, preparing rooms, and caring for patients, but the work did not excite him. Later, he tried something new and got a job at La Rinascente, a big department store in Milan, as a window dresser. He arranged clothing displays and learned how fashion attracts people. He was later promoted to menswear buyer, where he studied fabrics, tailoring, and design. In the 1960s, he worked as a freelance designer and created clothes for different brands, including Nino Cerruti. He had no formal training and had to prove himself while competing with bigger names. In 1975, at 41 years old, Armani started his own fashion brand with Sergio Galeotti and launched his first collection in Milan. His soft and simple suit designs felt lighter and more comfortable, which made them stand out. In 1980, his designs became known around the world when Richard Gere wore them in the movie American Gigolo. After that, his brand grew into one of the biggest fashion companies in the world. Today, the Armani Group is worth over $10 billion. Giorgio Armani once said, “Elegance is not about being noticed, it’s about being remembered.” It is never too late to build something great. Armani started his company at 41. #Believe