Speaking at the "luxury in a cool climate" fashion conference in Paris on Sunday, Giorgio Armani laid bare the secrets of his success, proving that with his legions of followers and not compromising his creative vision he is the new king of fashion

In a volatile industry, where games of musical chairs between star designers regularly wreak havoc with share prices, reputations and nerves, Armani enjoys a position of almost unrivalled security. He remains sole shareholder of the empire he founded 30 years ago and which now has a global value estimated at almost £3-billion.

Armani further attributed his success to a refusal to run with the pack. "My way was always to be as personal as possible. Just because everyone else is doing something, that doesn't make it right. "In fashion, the tide turns so frequently that if you lose your own way, you will be completely lost. The fact that I am here today proves that this strategy works."

He admitted, however, that this bullish approach had come at a price. His one sorrow was that he had not paid more attention "to human relations. In this business there's a tendency to become very self-centered, and that is regrettable." A retrospective of Giorgio Armani continues to be exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London until February 15, 2004.