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Armani news and facts history

Giorgio Armani S.p.A. is an Italian fashion company. The company designs and manufactures products in several categories including fashion accessories, apparel, cosmetics, fragrances, home interiors, jewelry, eyewear and watches under several labels including Giorgio Armani, Armani Collezioni, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani Junior, Armani Exchange A|X, and Armani Casa.

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Armani Lounge at Chelsea Football Club

The Chelsea Football Club has commissioned Giorgio Armani is to create a new look for its Directors’ Suite at Stamford Bridge.

To be called the “Armani Lounge”, the dining room and lounge area serves as the principal meeting place on matchdays for the Chelsea Board of Directors and for the entertainment of VIP guests.

In total the “Armani Lounge” covers 200 square metres for which Giorgio Armani has personally designed a unique concept featuring furnishings from his Armani/Casa home interiors collection.

The result is an impressive environment with the walls throughout in a mirrored bronze colour or alternatively clad in bronze metal effect laminates and a reed effect greige textile with marble flooring, warm diffused lighting from ceiling spotlights and table lamps from the Armani/Casa collection.

Giorgio Armani said: “It has been an honour to create a new environment for the Directors’ Suite at one of England’s most historic football clubs. Today the ambience in which we live, work and enjoy ourselves has become as important as the clothes we wear. I hope that the new “Armani Lounge” will suitably reflect on the elegance with which its iconic team play the great sport of football on the field below.”

7 August 2007

Giorgio Armani to open virtual store on Second Life

Giorgio Armani will be expanding his emporium and open an online boutique on the 3-D virtual world Second Life. The store will allow viewers to purchase the brand's top 10 products virtually via Second Life currency, the Linden dollar, or in actuality.

More significantly, coming in September, Armani will start selling all Emporio Armani products online in the U.S. as part of an ongoing strategy of expanding e-commerce.

"In the last seven years, I have seen mounting enthusiasm for online fashion shopping in the United States through the growing success we have had with our A|X Armani Exchange site," Armani told WWD. "Over this same period I have also observed the increasing sophistication of fashion consumers shopping online, which has encouraged me to develop this new site for my Emporio Armani lifestyle."

A soft unveiling of the Emporio Armani site is slated for Aug. 14, while the official launch will take place Sept. 7, to coincide with the Neiman Marcus Crystal Charity luncheon in Dallas.

Robert Triefus, Armani's executive vice president of worldwide communications, said that, for the first time, the designer will be interviewed online by the American public that day. "A major American portal will organize a live chat interview with Mr. Armani," said Triefus, declining to reveal the name of the Web site until the deal has been finalized.

The designer said there are only 10 Emporio Armani freestanding stores in the U.S. and that the Web site will enable consumers nationwide to shop the entire collection

Initially, only U.S. residents will be able to shop, but the company plans to expand the site to Europe next year and to Asia after that. "America is the most advanced country for e-commerce. It's only logical to launch there first," said Triefus.

www.armani.com
2 August 2007

Armani and Samsung may launch mobile phone

Giorgio Armani is rumoured to be in talks with Samsung to launch a new mobile phone design, after the success of Prada's and LG collaboration. The phone will likely be released in Europe this October. However, "the two companies have not signed a contract yet," a Korean publication stated. Armani's phone is expected to feature "exclusive content" and, presumably, a sleek design.

Regardless, Armani's plan to team up with Samsung, which worked with Bang & Olufsen in the past , may prove to be a smart strategy for the company. Rumour has it that Armani and Samsung also plan to create a line of TVs, another way to marry designer chic with tech geek.

www.armani.com
www.samsung.com
24 July 2007

Armani Exchange comes to London

Armani Exchange is due to open a flagship store on Regent Street this September. Along with another flagship planned for Tokyo, it will bring its worldwide network to 119 stores. The Regent Street store will further be the largest A/X Store in the world and feature Giorgio Armani's new retail design concept for the brand. The design balances openness and intimacy, with large spaces and more private rooms, according to WGSN, creating a flexibility and fluidity of access that will allow the consumer to shop in individualistic ways to suit his or her own style.

"The new concept underscores the contrast between dark and light, smooth and rough textures, and shiny and matt finishes in a manner appropriate to the casual sophistication of the A/X consumer," in a statement released by the company.

www.armaniexchange.com
19 July 2007

Armani sets sights on US expansion

Still going strong in his seventies, Italian powerhouse designer Giorgio Armani has outlined an ambitious plan for expansion in the US, which includes a mega store on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue. The fashion house will spend $100 million over the next three years to beef up its US wholesale and retail operations, renovate existing stores, open new stores and relaunch the Armani Jeans line in department stores.

The crowning glory, a 47,000 square foot store on Fifth Avenue, will open in fall 2008. The location currently houses the Hugo Boss flagship store. The new complex is based on the Armani store on Via Manzoni in Milan, which was rolled out in Hong Kong and Munich, and which will hit Tokyo this November. The US complex will house the brands Giorgio Armani, Emporio Armani, Armani Jeans, Armani Junior and Armani Casa, as well as offering Armani and Emporio Armani accessories, watches, eyewear, jewellery and perfumes. In all likelihood it will also include a sweet shop, a restaurant and bar, and a beauty area.

Armani chose Fifth Avenue as the location for his flagship because it “represents one of the world's unique fashion retail destinations”. He told WWD that the store will reflect the world today: “international, cosmopolitan, multicultural, and, above all, contemporary.”

www.giorgioarmani.com
4 June 2007

Armani funds World Cinema Foundation

Giorgio Armani is the major financial support for Martin Scorsese's World Cinema Foundation, which the director announced in Cannes on Tuesday. The non-profit organization is dedicated to the preservation and restoration of important neglected films hailing principally from Third World countries, i.e. those lacking the financing needed to refurbish classic films. ?

"I am honoured to have the support of my fellow filmmakers to help us achieve our goal of preserving the cinematic treasures of developing countries," Martin Scorsese told a press conference at the 60th Cannes Film Festival. ?He further stated: ??"I am also particularly honoured that my good friend, Giorgio Armani, has agreed to help us. His dedication to the preservation of Italian cinema is already well known through his participation as Executive Producer on my documentary "Il Mio Viaggio in Italia",” said Scorsese referring to his tribute to Italian cinema from the 1940s to the 1960s. ??

Armani, who is again working with Scorsese on a second documentary, a tribute to Italian cinema from the 1960s until today, will also serve as a member of the Board of Trustees. ??The friendship between Scorsese and Armani dates back to back to 1990, when the director filmed "Made in Milan", a short documentary on the designer.

24 May 2007

Giorgio Armani strong 2006

Italian fashion conglomerate Giorgio Armani posted a pre-tax rise of 19 percent to €246 million for 2006, on consolidated sales up 9 percent to €1.5 billion. The company attributed the growth to solid sales of accessories, jewellery and beauty products.

Armani said the company had experienced growth across all geographic areas, product lines and brands. Europe and North America both saw double-digit growth of 11 percent and 10 percent respectively, followed by the Far East with 9 percent growth. Jewellery outperformed other categories by far with 41 percent growth, followed by eyewear with 20 percent and watches with 17 percent. The company's children's wear brand Armani Junior grew 26 percent, while its lifestyle brand A|X Armani Exchange grew 17 percent. In a statement, Armani founding president and chief executive Giorgio Armani highlighted the ongoing worldwide expansion of the A|X Armani Exchange brand, which includes new markets such as Brazil , Indonesia and the United Arab Emirates . He also emphasized the growth of the accessories business, for which the company now has a wholesale distribution of 1,100 doors. He pointed out the strength of the licensed products “which are now benefiting from a successful market re-positioning” and the “fast-track retail expansion programme within the travel and duty free sector.”

In 2006, Armani opened 42 stores, a combination of directly operated stores and with franchise partners. This year, the company has over 50 new store openings in the pipeline, including the Tokyo Armani/Ginza Tower concept store, 25 A|X Armani Exchange stores and 20 Emporio Armani stores. With a current network of 392 stores, this amount will exceed 400 by years' end.

The company is upbeat about its expectations for the current year, which got off to a strong start. “The current year is showing the same positive momentum as in 2006 with wholesale orders for the Autumn Winter 2007/8 collections up 9 percent year-on-year,” Armani said.

www.giorgioarmani.com
23 April 2007

Armani denies IPO rumours

The rumour that Giorgio Armani is planning to float his company have been vehemently denied by the company. The Italian newspaper Corriere Della Sera suggested as much in an article yesterday. It reported that Armani was in talks with both Morgan Stanley and Merrill Lynch to take the company public. Sources valued the company between £2.3 billion and £3.3 billion. “Any meetings that we may be having with members of the financial professional community are simply part of our overall approach of providing information in an open and professional way to those who follow our sector as exemplified by the way in which we publish our annual report,” the company said.

Armani once said in an interview with Time magazine that he would not consider an IPO because the nature of the business is so personal that it would be detrimental to have to constantly answer to shareholders and explain to them why you spend $1 million on a fashion show. “And the stock market is so demanding,” he added. “If you don't grow 20 percent every season, the business collapses.”

www.giorgioarmani.com
24 October 2006

Armani Exchange enters new markets

A|X Armani Exchange is pushing its international expansion into new markets. Today the hip, young brand opens its first store in, in Abu Dhabi , and next month it will open two boutiques in Brazil , in Sao Paolo and in Rio de Janeiro . It will be the brand's first foray into the South American and Middle Eastern markets.

“When we plan to open in new areas, we are always careful to make sure that the Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani brands are established in those particular areas first,” Harlan Bratcher, president of A|X Armani Exchange, told WWD. “And now we are definitely in expansion mode, we are even 10 stores ahead of schedule.” These openings will bring the total number of stores to 108, a marked growth since the brand was launched in 1991. The company plans to add another 25 stores in the Middle East within the next three years and another 25 in South America and Mexico .

The openings are part of a joint venture between Giorgio Armani SpA and Como Holdings Inc. Armani executives expect the business to almost double annual sales volume to $550 million within the next three years and the brand plans to open another 95 stores worldwide.

www.armaniexchange.com
20 October 2006

Armani to dress TomKat?

After much speculation about the legitimacy of their relationship, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes are to tie the knot. The world press has temporarily forgotten Cruise's erratic and offensive behaviour and is focusing all its attention on the wedding of the year. The date or location of the event is not yet known, although it is expected to take place in Italy next month. According to a report by WWD, Giorgio Armani is believed to be the designer creating the couple's outfits for the entire wedding. Sources said that Armani has designed five different outfits for Holmes to wear during her wedding weekend. In Paris for Fashion Week, Holmes revealed that she had already picked out her wedding dress. She was signalled in Milan as well, where she may well have been to see Armani at his headquarters. A spokesperson for the company refused to comment.

After flaunting their new found ‘lurve' in front of camera crews the world over, the celebrity couple has retreated into a shroud of secrecy about their private life. They famously kept the world waiting for weeks before showing us pictures of their newborn daughter Suri. They finally did in a meticulously choreographed spread in Vanity Fair. Their wedding will no doubt be organized with the same precision to achieve maximum effect.

19 October 2006

Armani Casa opens Bond street store

Armani Casa, Giorgio Armani's luxury homeware line, opened its UK flagship on Bond Street today, which is the brand's first standalone in the UK. The store's concept is to create a distinctive atmosphere through a combination of products that range from furniture and furnishings to accessories, décor and fabrics. Armani/Casa was launched in 2000 in Milan . Giorgio Armani's objective was to bring his philosophy of style to the world of home interiors and in so doing create the complete concept of an Armani lifestyle.

For sale are furniture, tableware, decoration accessories, fabrics, ornaments, lighting, as well as ideas for bathroom and kitchen. For 2006/2007, the collection makes references to the Far East in the Twenties and the Baroque Era harmonise sympathetically with restrained shapes. The styles are light and curvaceous, conveying an approach to functionality and a human dimension, in which comfort co-exists on equal terms with a rigorous aesthetic.

Armani/Casa colours are burnt orange earthy hues, claret, lilac, silver and mother of pearl; warm and sunny shades rather than striking contrasts. Like his clothes, Armani favours rustic and fine finishing over dazzling and brights. Armani plans to open further stores in Mexico City , Miami and Tel Aviv. In the near future, Armani/Casa will see further expansion through the unique collection of Armani Hotels & Resorts that Giorgio Armani is launching in collaboration with Emaar Properties, on e of the world's leading property developers.

Currently the Armani Group is one of the leading fashion and luxury groups that is privately owned. The company employs over 4000 employees worldwide, and operates 13 of its own factories. The company designs, manufactures, distributes and retails everything from jewellery to jeans and operates over 300 stores worldwide.

www.armanicasa.com
21 September 2006

Armani paints London Town Red

Last night London saw its most fashionable party yet. Even Beyonce was in awe of Armani's star-studded event, saying: "Thank you for having me, Mr Armani!" after her perfomance to 1600 privileged guests. Giorgio Armani showcased his SS07 Emporio Armani collection in London while simultaneously highlighting his involvement with the Red Charity and the opening of Armani/Casa on Bond Street earlier in the day.

But by the standards of any fashion capital, this was not so much a catwalk show as a stadium gig. After all, what fashion show - let alone one held in London - is presented by Leonardo DiCaprio and Bono? Or lavishes a crowd with dinner, champagne and the chance to eyeball 50 Cent at close range.

Armani, according to the Independent, is the most powerful man in fashion, and so it should be no surprise that he, and his charitable cause, are able to persuade Beyoncé, Razorlight, Bryan Ferry and Andrea Bocelli to provide the soundtrack to his catwalk show. There were plenty of clothes for the guests to look at though, many flown in from Italy .

Making a nod to the charitable intentions of the evening, there were splashes of red in his otherwise grey and black spring Emporio Armani collection, as was the case with the tomato-coloured patent belts worn with a black-and-white striped cocktail frock keeping in tune with the 1980s trend hitting London catwalks earlier this week or strawberry-red taffeta dresses. RED clothing refers to the charity's stated intention to fight Aids in Africa .

www.armani.com
22 September 2006

Armani to open New York hotels

New Yorkers have long been familiar with the Giorgio Armani power suit. Soon they will make the acquaintance of the designer's power suite. Construction is scheduled to begin in the next few months on the first of two Armani hotels planned for Manhattan, according to Joey Allaham, a New York City restaurateur, who recently partnered with Dubai-based Emaar Hotel & Resort Group to bring the designer's hotel chain to the United States.

Emaar inked a deal with the designer in 2005 to invest $1 billion to develop seven hotels bearing the Armani name. Armani hotels are scheduled to open in Dubai and London by next year.

www.armani.com
14 September 2006

Armani enjoys strong 2005

Fashion and luxury goods purveyor Giorgio Armani saw net profit for the year ended 31 December 2005 leap 22.7 percent to €154.8 million. The increase was boosted by €39.8 million in extraordinary income from real estate and stock market deals. Armani himself received €100 million in dividends as sole shareholder last year. The introduction of his couture line Giorgio Armani Privé and the joint venture he formed to expand the A|X Armani exchange brand helped “close the circle on our multi-brand approach” and led to a “record-breaking year”, he said in the annual report's opening letter. Meanwhile, the operating profit was in line with preliminary figures released in April. Net earnings rose 17.6 percent to €191.4 million, while sales gained 10 percent to €1.43 billion. Figures were most significantly boosted by Armani's sale last year of 49 percent of ManzoniUno Srl, the company that owns its flagship in Milan , to another company controlled by the Italian designer for €18.4 million. The other 51 percent had been sold off to another company owned by Armani in 2004. The group also received €21.1 million from its 1.5 percent stake in eyewear company Safilo SpA, a company which manufacturers the brand's eyewear.

The outlook for the second half was optimistic. “There is a considerable and steady rise in retail sales in key international markets, particularly the Far East and Europe , and significant growth in the orders portfolio, especially in the accessory and home lines,” the company said. The group invested €36 million into its retail network, opening 41 stores and renovating 22 existing shops. It will open a new flagship and corporate headquarters in the Ginza district of Tokyo next fall. It also plans to double the size of its A|X Armani Exchange chain over the next three years. Further to this, the company is buying out all the minority shareholders in its manufacturing subsidiaries. To this end, Armani just acquired 40 percent of apparel manufacturer Borgo 21 for €35.2 million. “(Giorgio Armani) has now acquired total control over the companies that manufacture and market Giorgio Armani label clothes,” the company said.

www.giorgioarmani.com
5 September 2006

Armani Casa comes to London

Armani Casa is set to open its first flagship store in London in September. The new store, located on New Bond Street , will cover 6,480 square feet spread out over two floors. The store will offer the entire Casa line, including furniture, fabrics and accessories. “ London is probably the world's most cosmopolitan city today,” designer Giorgio Armani said in a statement. “There is a high appreciation for design and lifestyle, especially within the home environment. We now look forward to offering our collection and service in this important market.” He also said the brand was showing “very real growth” and that opening a store in London was a logical step.

By the end of this year, Armani Casa will have 33 free-standing stores and 100 shop-in-shops. Later this year stores will open in Mexico City and Miami .

www.armanicasa.com
26 July 2006

Milan fashion closes with nod to elegant casualwear

Giorgio Armani, the king of classic, relaxed fashion, epitomized the mood at Milan fashion week; next summer is about dressing elegantly casual. On the runway, Armani's jackets were structured, but fashioned in ultra soft fabric, while trousers remained comfortably loose despite a formal crease. A funky waistcoat sewn into the jacket lent youth to the suit.
Armani preferred a trendy Nehru style blouse to the traditional stiff-collared white shirt, kept his jeans tight and paired his outfits with pristine white running shoes. Colors ranged from sandy beige and sea blue, to city gray.

Although there were only a few pairs, Armani did include Bermuda shorts—an absolute must for warmer weather—in his show.
The designer presented his collection on the last day of the five-day preview showings. Also showing was Fendi—with cropped jackets and pencil trousers—and Moschino, where much of the show was about striped seersucker suits and shorts.
In general, Italian designers seemed to agree that next summer should be devoted to relaxation, whether lying on the beach or hunched over an office desk. Jeanswear has been replaced by a mix of sporty and classic clothes that would be at home at the country club.

The summer silhouette can be divided into two types: skinny and delicate (Prada and Burberry), or healthy and hardy (Dolce & Gabbana and Emporio Armani).
In either case, the summer man likes his comfort. Just watch the way he casually rolls up the sleeves of his soft jacket.
Colours for summer are quiet and cool shades of beige, blue and sea green, with dashes of bright purple, red, green and yellow. The latter often come in shiny plasticized fabric for sports jackets, overcoats and floppy hats, the only question mark in a very reassuring round of collections.
Although some models had shaven heads or extra long hair, most of the hairstyles were short and neat.

30 June 2006

Emporio Armani to show at London Fashion Week

Just when we thought fashion’s big names were deflecting abroad, Giorgio Armani today confirmed his Emporio Armani women's fashion collection will show during the next London Fashion Week, on September 21.
Armani said the unique fashion music event will also celebrate the launch of his Emporio Armani Product Red capsule collection, which includes clothing, accessories, eyewear, watches, jewellery and fragrances.

Emporio Armani is one of the five partner brands participating in Product Red, the economic initiative launched by Bono and Bobby Shriver last December. It is designed to raise funds to fight AIDS in Africa, and Armani is donating 40% of the gross profit margin from sales of the special collection directly to the charity.
Giorgio Armani said: "London is in many ways the world's most cosmopolitan and influential city, as it has become a crossroads for so many of today's cultural references, including contemporary art, architecture, the performing arts, literature, food, music, film and fashion."

The show will happen as the company prepares to reopen its Emporio Armani flagship store and café on Brompton Road in London in October. The store, which is now closed for a complete refit, was first opened in 1988.

25 May 2006

Armani earnings surge

Giorgio Armani reported double-digit growth in profits and revenues in 2005, resulting from store openings and further diversification. The company added that first quarter retail sales rose 8 percent.

Earnings before interest and tax for the year ended 31 December soared 18 percent to €191 million, while sales rose 10 percent to €1.42 billion. In 2004 sales grew only 3.5 percent and profits suffered from advertising costs. The company will present net profit results when it publishes it annual report in May.

“As the sole shareholder of an independent company, I am often asked about plans for the future,” said 71 year-old president and chief executive Giorgio Armani. “The performance of this company speaks for itself.”

He said his brand is now worth €5 billion at retail and therefore among the most powerful. He added that the company has enough internal resources to fund organic growth.

Although Armani has denied he intends to sell his company or float it on the stock market, he did not dismiss the latter idea out of hand. In an interview with The Wall Street Journal published on Monday, he said, “The most suitable solution is perhaps the stock market…I have to think of the future of the company. I also have to give signals to the people who work here.”

Last year the company opened 41 stores and renovated 22 boutiques. John Hooks, commercial and marketing director and president of Giorgio Armani Japan told WWD that the company plans to continue at this pace, opening at least 40 stores this year and next year. “I think that we'll be able to match the figure in 2006 and in 2007 as well,” he said. “We want to maintain this sort of momentum.”

Retail store sales represent about one-third of the company's consolidated revenue, or €476 million. Retail revenue rose 3 percent in the US, 10 percent in the EU and 11 percent in Japan. China experienced a sales growth of 24 percent thanks to a spate of store openings there in the last few years.

Meanwhile, Armani Casa retail revenues soared 40 percent to €30 million, thanks to the addition of 30 sale points last year. The worldwide total is now 75, and another 40 openings are in the pipeline for this year.

The company currently has a positive balance of €443 million, compared with €397 million last year.

Its wholesale business – which includes wholesale to third parties as well as wholesale values of merchandise sent to the company's own stores and licensed products – gained 10 percent to €1.85 billion.

Apparel generated 52 percent of total revenues, making it the largest product category. The two biggest brands are Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani, collectively accounting for 59 percent of sales. Fragrances represented 28 percent of group sales.

www.giorgioarmani.com
13 April 2006

Armani to expand in China

Italian fashion giant Armani plans a major expansion in China with the opening of as many as 50 new retail outlets and investments in other projects, the Italian News Agency Ansa reported.
Giorgio Armani, John Hooks, the group's commercial director and Paolo Fontanelli, the chief financial officer unveiled the details of the plan.

Armani already has 35 stores in 12 Chinese cities and expects to have 40 by the end of the year. It also has 28 sale points in large department stores, according to Armani group's managers.
The Italian group is currently the sixth largest international fashion company operating in China. Hugo Boss has 67 stores, while Ermenegildo Zegna owns 60.

Ralph Lauren, Burberry and Ferragamo are the other fashion majors in the country.
The new retail outlets will focus on marketing Emporio Armani and Armani Collezioni lines and will be set up as joint ventures with Chinese business partners, Ansa reported Thursday.
“We will choose these partners by geographic area in order to rationalise our joint ventures to have no more than seven or eight partners,” Fontanelli explained.

Armani's other investments in China will centre on its Armani Casa (Home) line and in the hotel sector.

The fashion group already has a hotel in Dubai and within two years plans to open one in Milan. Ten other hotels are in the planning stage, the first of which will be built in Shanghai.

Armani and Gucci most desirable brands

Giorgio Armani and Gucci are the world's most desirable brands, according to an online consumer survey by market research firm ACNielsen. The company found that one in three consumers would buy products by either one of the luxury brands if money were not an issue. “Giorgio Armani and Gucci clearly understand that strong brands make for profitable businesses,” ACNielsen president and chief executive Frank Martell told Bloomberg. “They are not merely selling fashion, they are selling an image, something consumers are willing to pay a premium for.”

According to ACNielsen, Versace came in third place, reaffirming the strength and continued appeal of Italian luxury brands. 27 percent of consumers said they would buy Versace items if money were not a concern. ACNielsen surveyed 21,000 consumers in 42 countries, from Europe , Asia-Pacific, the United Arab Emirates and North and Latin America .

>> more Gucci @ FashionUnited
22 February 2006

Giorgio Armani kicks of Milan Fashion Week

Milan Fashion Week got off to a sexy start with Giorgio Armani showing a feminine collection confirming the maestro of androgynous fashoin is walking a new path. "Women want to be sexy, so I will make them sexy," Armani said after a much-applauded show yesterday in the theatre of his Milan headquarters. The new Armani silhouette is petite and fitted with below-the-knee, hip-caressing skirts in soft fabrics, paired with dainty jackets cut close to the bodice. There wasn't a pair of trousers in the entire collection.

Colours strayed from the earth tones of the Armani palette: There was fuchsia, turquoise, amethyst and garnet mixed with dashes of white, gold and platinum. "The world is changing and so is fashion," the 71-year-old Armani said. But the designer, who traded in jeans and T-shirt for tie and jacket for his after-show curtain calls, has no intention of being left behind.

Armani reports turnover rise

Italian luxury goods company Giorgio Armani SpA has reported a rise in turnover in 2005 of about 8 percent to €1.4 billion (£960 million). The increase in turnover was boosted by the company's clothing and cosmetics businesses, which have recovered from a growth slump.

“All of our clothing ranges showed growth in particular in key markets like Japan and the US,” said Giorgio Armani. “Perfumes and cosmetics have doubled growth and ended the year with double-digit sales increases.” In 2004 clothing and perfume sales remained stagnant, with group turnover amounting to €1.3 billion and operating profit up 10 percent to €180 million.

Armani has said that he believes that the accessories and home sectors have the biggest growth potential in the next five years. He has invested in these sectors by acquiring shoe and leather goods factories and expanded Armani Casa with 10 new worldwide store openings in the past year.

www.armani.com
3 January 2006

Armani online

Luxury fashion and personal care brand, Giorgio Armani will soon be offering its perfume and cosmetic ranges online. According to the company, the website will incorporate the same design features as its stores, including a beauty bar allowing customers to view the products lined up in front of them. Another innovative feature will be the real time model feature, which will allow the user to see products, such as lipstick, applied to an on-screen model, allowing them to judge the shade for themselves.

Mr Armani noted, "I am approaching the launch of this website with the same attention to detail and the same commitment as when I open a new boutique. This, however, is our virtual store and it has been designed to take advantage of all the benefits that the Internet now offers in terms of communication and commerce." The launch of the site will be the first time that the entire collection of fragrances and cosmetics from the Giorgio Armani group will be shown together on the internet.

Giorgio Armani to expand cosmetics

Giorgio Armani Cosmetics is expecting a major double-digit increase in sales this year, its managing director Renaud de Lesquen stated. Same-store sales will also see a double-digit increase, he says. The makeup brand will double its number of doors next year, he adds, from 95 currently.

“We want to control everything we are starting to look a bit wider and look at propositions from other retailers.” The expansion for next year will notably include 20 further doors in the US and 50 upscale perfumeries in Italy, de Lesquen says. He explains that while the brand's focus has been on specialty or upscale department store doors, it is now widening its reach to include certain perfumeries.

The brand will open a store-in-store in Paris, France's Le Bon Marché department store on December 5. The 40m2 Beauty Walk has a runway-like feature with a screen showing Armani fashion, with the brand's products on show to one side, and makeup stations to the other. Previously, only the brand's fragrances were available at the store. Armani fragrances are available in some 20,000 points-of-sale worldwide.

Giorgio Armani reports H1 profits

Italian luxury label Giorgio Armani has SpA reported double-digit operating profits for the first half. Sales also rose after the company increased the amount of directly owned stores in its portfolio. Earnings before interest and tax increased 10 percent to €97 million (£65.7 million) on revenue growth of 8 percent to €697 million.

The company said sales at directly-owned stores increased 13 percent thanks to brands relying less on third-party retailers to generate revenue. Sales in Japan and greater China, and within the Emporio Armani diffusion line, performed particularly well during the period.

www.giorgioarmani.com
5 October 2005

Armani in resort deal

Italian designer Giorgio Armani, who has built his fashion label into a brand empire covering everything from fashion to flower arrangements to furniture, has signed a deal to open at least ten hotels and resorts bearing his name.

Armani agreed the joint venture with Dubai's EMAAR Properties, which will invest more than £549 million, taking care of real estate, building and management. Armani will be in charge of the design and styling of the hotels, which will be full of his furniture, fashion and beauty products.

www.armani.com
1 June 2005

Armani may open in Ireland

Italian luxury retailer Armani may open its first stand-alone store in Ireland. The company is in talks to open at Castlethorn Construction's Dundrum Town Centre in South Dublin. A source has said that Armani is "semi-committed" to the venture. The new shop will not be run as a franchise, but directly by Giorgio Armani's company in Italy.

The new centre will house some of the best names in the fashion business, including Harvey Nichols who will be opening there later in the year. "In terms of names, it's probably the best centre in Ireland," said a source. The Armani Group saw its profitability grow by 23 per cent to EUR89 million (GBP 63.16 million) in the first half of 2004, with revenues rising 5 per cent to EUR644 million.

www.armani.com
22 February 2005

No Retirement For Armani

This year marks the 30th anniversary for Giorgio Armani. The minimalist fashion house is reportedly worth £2 billion, and is complemented by a 300-shop, 5,000-employee global empire and become the most successful designer in the £10 billion world-wide fashion industry. It may be 30 years since he founded his business but Giorgio Armani was a late starter. Now he has just turned 70. In an industry where you are considered old at 40 - Gucci's superstar designer Tom Ford quit recently, aged 42 - what everyone wants to know is: can the one-man brand play on?

The company, as it stands, has no deputy and has not anointed an in-house successor. Armani is chairman, chief executive, chief designer and sole shareholder of his vast business. When will he retire and what will happen after he quits? In an exclusive 30th anniversary interview with The Sunday Times, he said: "I can't put a date on retirement. It could be in the year 3000. I feel young and I am someone who believes in modernism. I am somewhat driven and always ready to embrace new opportunities."

Armani believes he has got what it takes to go on for at least another decade. "I have not fallen into the trap of becoming ridiculous. I have not had a facelift. I do not dye my hair. I take care to dress my age. Unless I suddenly fall ill, I cannot imagine giving up a part of my company or handing it over to somebody else." The idea of an 80-year-old on the catwalk may sound preposterous. It will certainly alarm industry observers who say that, by delaying his succession, Armani risks weakening his brand. Nigel Nicholson of London Business School said: "It is common for heads of family businesses not to think about the future, to think they are immortal, but this does not serve business interests."

He may not be immortal, but Armani is nothing if not fashion's great survivor. His rivals - Yves St Laurent, Calvin Klein, Donna Karan, Valentino Garavani and Gianfranco Ferré - quit their front-line design roles years ago, but he remains at the helm of a company that announces record results almost every year. The firm's most recent figures show that group sales in the first half of 2004 were up 8% to €644m (£448m) compared with the same period a year earlier. Pre-tax profits rose 23% to €89m. Net cash reserves stand at some £150m. Armani is one of only three Italian companies in the list of the top 100 global brands, drawn up by the analyst Interbrand.

Few would bet against Armani continuing for another five years at least. Indeed, the older he gets, the harder and faster he seems to be working, searching for new areas to conquer. Bernard Arnault, boss of the French luxury-goods giant LVMH, and Domenico De Sole, formerly Tom Ford's business right-hand man at the Gucci Group, have each approached Armani. They want to buy the brand and could easily afford the £2 billion tag. But Armani has spurned their offers.

He acknowledges that he will have to sell one day. He does not want to give his two nieces and his nephew who work for him "the huge responsibility" of taking over the family firm, he rejects a stock-market listing and the vast price tag rules out a management buyout. But he is determined that the world's best-known and most consistently profitable label will not be swallowed up by one of the luxury-goods conglomerates.

www.armani.com
www.thetimes.co.uk
23 January 2004

Armani Prive

Fragrance is the most democratised wing of fashion, because everyone can get a piece of the designer life at a good price. But with Armani Prive - four unusual, sophisticated scents, only available at this Sloane Street store and Harrods in the UK - Giorgio Armani is doing something different.

"Not everyone will be drawn to them," he says, "but that's the point. Less obvious scents will appeal to those who know how to wear my clothes." Armani Prive from £120. For more information contact 020 7235 6232

www.armani.com
14 December 2004

Armani Goes For Couture

Giorgio Armani is throwing caution to the wind in the struggling climate for fashion couture. The Giorgio Armani atelier - modern eveningwear made to haute-couture standards - will debut on the catwalk during the Paris haute-couture shows in January next month.

The lure of haute couture for Armani is likely to be its red-carpet appeal as much as its kudos. Like John Galliano at Dior and Karl Lagerfeld at Chanel, Armani is extremely well connected to the fashion glitterati. And the January shows are, of course, perfectly timed for Oscar dress shopping.

www.armani.com
3 December 2004

The future of Armani

For anyone wondering what will happen to his empire when Giorgio Armani decides to retire, the Italian designer's recent revelations provide the answer.

Armani told Le Monde that he plans to sell the business entirely. He does not wish to burden his nieces and nephews with the running of a 4,500 man workforce. Neither does he wish to float the company on the stock market, as this would weaken the group and would put it at the mercy of those "who do not always understand the business of fashion". It is also inconceivable to him to be a minority shareholder in the company that he founded, so the only solution is to sell the business lock, stock and barrel. However, Armani would only consider selling to someone who understood that the business should be left in its present state, with the current team intact.

In the meantime he plans to re-invest 70% of the group's cash flow in order to remain independent.

www.armani.com
22 November 2004

Armani's about-face

Italian designer Giorgio Armani has decided to change tactics. After 40 years in the fashion business, the 70-year-old dynamo has admitted that he needs to allow more people to view his collections. He revealed that he has to allow room for criticism in order to move ahead and do the one thing he loves.

His new attitude to his work was revealed in his last fashion show. It was a grandiose affair, held in New York, attended by over 2,000 readers of Paper magazine and a smattering of celebrities. For the first time ever, Armani admitted "regular people" in to witness the catwalk presentation, which included Ricky Martin strutting his stuff in Armani designs.

www.armani.com
11 November 2004

Armani still going strong

The Italian designer is to collect the Superstar Award at the Fashion Group International's Night of Stars this week. Receiving this lifetime achievement award at age 70 might indicate a winding down of his career, but Armani assured reporters that this is absolutely not the case. He is determined to continue with his work, and is considering working with L'Oreal or LVMH.

The designer admitted that he has no interest in an IPO and that he does not want to burden his family with too much responsibility once he retires. However, he is not about to retire yet. Yesterday he presented his latest collection at Pier 94 in New York. He called the show " a little gift to New York". With this grand gesture Armani ensured that he still has a long road ahead of him.

www.armani.com
27 October 2004

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