Mr. Armani - A Design Icon
Armani x Etihad Airways - by Buzz
On September 4th 2025, the world lost one of the great icons of luxury, Mr Giorgio Armani.
I never met the man in person, but I have been privileged to work closely with the Armani team on several projects. Over the years that we worked on collaborative projects, I formed a deep admiration for Mr Armani, his dedication to his work, and the principles of his brand.
As my career has progressed, I have worked in collaboration with many luxury brands on design projects. It’s something I really enjoy, yet entering the space with a background in industrial design gives you an interesting perspective. Fashion cynics view the luxury goods market as a sector that drives consumerism based on the badges which adorn the products. Yet that viewpoint fails to recognise the most important pillar of what we call luxury. It’s not really about the emblem, it’s about what that badge stands for. Every brand has a story, and to appreciate the brand, you have to engage with the story.
The fundamental values of industrial design are that we should create products of value, products of quality, products which will stand the test of time. Mr Armani represented the very best of luxury, and his brand embodies these same principles, and has delivered on them for decades.
A titan of the fashion industry, yet a man who did not follow trends. Mr Armani led with an uncompromising vision; that of delivering timeless style, flawless quality and refined elegance. The empire that he built is entirely founded on his unwavering view that products should offer longevity, that good taste and quality are unaffected by the passing of time. Designers from all backgrounds will do well to adopt these principles and hold them close.
Mr Armani lived a lifetime of unparalleled achievements. Every person I have met in the Armani organisation held enormous respect for the man at the helm. It is abundantly clear they feel that they are part of something special. Moreover, it appeared from the outside that the longer people worked there, the more their admiration for the man grew.
Personally, I’m proud to have been able to experience a very small slice of that career in close proximity, because when you operate in the orbit of such an individual, you cannot help but be inspired.
Thank you, Mr. Armani, your legacy and your design ethos will continue to echo for grateful generations to come.