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95-426: Giorgio Armani ( Italian pronunciation: [ˈdʒordʒo arˈmaːni] ; born 11 July 1934) is an Italian fashion designer. He first gained renown working for Cerruti and then for many others, including Allegri, Bagutta, and Hilton. He formed his company, Armani , in 1975, which eventually expanded into music, sport, and luxury hotels. By 2001, Armani was acclaimed as the most successful designer of Italian origin, and

190-566: A Ramadan collection for the Muslim holiday featuring refined colors of Islamic art and no alcohol. In addition, Armani/Dolci sells special delicate collections for Christmas and its significant anniversaries. The Armani/Dolci brand is well received by both critics and the public. The Giorgio Armani label also has a florist under its name, called Armani/Fiori . The exclusive floral service has been active since 2000 in major independent flower boutiques and other Armani stores around

285-630: A body mass index (BMI) under 18, after model Ana Carolina Reston starved herself to death due to anorexia nervosa . Armani broadcast his collection live on the Internet, the first in the world of haute couture, on 24 January 2007. The Armani Privé Spring/Summer 2007 fashion show was broadcast via MSN and Cingular cellular phones. Armani has designed many stage outfits for pop superstar Lady Gaga , including those worn on her record-breaking Monster Ball Tour and Born This Way Ball Tour . He has also designed for many high-profile award shows, such as

380-795: A minister . Gere was raised Methodist in Syracuse, New York . His paternal great-grandfather, George Lane Gere (1848–1932), changed the spelling of his surname from "Geer". One of his ancestors, also named George, was an Englishman who came from Heavitree , England, and settled in the Connecticut Colony in 1638. Both of Gere's parents were Mayflower descendants; his ancestors include Pilgrims such as John Billington , William Brewster , Francis Eaton , Francis Cooke , Degory Priest , George Soule and Richard Warren . In 1967, Gere graduated from North Syracuse Central High School , where he excelled at gymnastics and music and played

475-467: A bullfighting costume entitled the "Goyesco" that was worn by Spanish bullfighter Cayetano Rivera Ordóñez at the "Corrida Goyesca" in Ronda , Spain. They have also collaborated on several fashion shows and other events. In 2011, Armani became the first luxury designer to accept Livia Firth's Green Carpet Challenge to highlight sustainable fashion created out of recycled plastics and fabrics. His designs for

570-569: A day of dancing for his role as lawyer Billy Flynn in Chicago. He also studied karate for An Officer and a Gentleman . Multiple film critics and media outlets have cited Gere as one of the best actors never to have received an Academy Award nomination. Gere regularly visits Dharamshala , the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile . He is an advocate for human rights in Tibet and

665-458: A department store in Milan in 1957. In that same year at the store, he was responsible for showcasing the earliest garments of the innovative Finnish textiles, clothing, and home furnishings company, Marimekko . He went on to become a seller for the menswear department. In that capacity, he gained valuable experience in the marketing aspect of the fashion industry. In the mid-1960s, Armani moved to

760-695: A design office in Milan, at 37 Corso Venezia. This led to a period of extensive collaboration, during which Armani worked as a freelance designer for several fashion houses, including Allegri, Bagutta, Hilton, Sicons, Gibò, Montedoro, and Tendresse. The international press was quick to acknowledge Armani's importance following the runway shows at the Sala Bianca in the Pitti Palace in Florence. The experience allowed Armani to develop his style in new ways. He

855-409: A drawer of Armani shirts, perfectly folded, labels exposed, before composing four entirely Armani outfits in what ultimately amounted to cinema's best advertising campaign for a fashion brand ever. It projected Armani's name and style to an audience far broader than any fashion magazine could reach. The film made Gere a star, and Armani too. Armani designed costumes for more than one hundred films, one of

950-518: A house magazine that was sent out by mail to consumers, and faithful Armani Eagle wearers. Armani also felt that a relationship with the cinema was essential, both for promotional reasons and for the stimulus to creativity. Armani had the honour to produce his work for the film American Gigolo, specifically for the actor Richard Gere who played the character Julian Kaye. The production of his work through film really helped publicize Armani's talents. It also heavily publicized his name, Gere wrenching open

1045-897: A joint venture with Vestimenta for the production of the men's and women's Borgonuovo line. Giorgio Armani worked with Albert Wolsky for Duplicity (2009), with Lindy Hemming on the costumes for the cast of both The Dark Knight (2008) and The Dark Knight Rises (2012), with April Ferry for Elysium (2013) and with Sandy Powell for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013). Other costume design projects have included American Gigolo (1980), The Untouchables (1987), A Star for Two (1991), The Bodyguard (1992), Nirvana (1997), Hurlyburly (1998), Ocean's Thirteen (2007), Inglourious Basterds (2009), The String (2009), Hanna (2011), Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol (2011), A Most Violent Year (2014) and The Young Pope (2016). In 2016, Giorgio Armani stopped using animal fur in all of its collections, citing

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1140-486: A line of eyeglasses (1988), socks (1987), a gift collection (1989), and a new "basic" men's and women's line for America known as A/X Armani Exchange (1991). After the frenetic expansion of the 1990s (sportswear, watches, eyeglasses, cosmetics, home, and new accessories collections), 2000, the twenty-fifth anniversary of the brand, saw a flurry of investment activity, including stock sales and the acquisition of new manufacturing capacity intended to increase Armani's control over

1235-402: A live news conference to promote condom use among truck drivers, he embraced Bollywood superstar Shilpa Shetty , dipped her, and kissed her several times on the cheek. As a result of that gesture, a local court ordered the arrest of Gere and Shetty, finding them in violation of public obscenity laws. Gere has said the controversy was "manufactured by a small hard-line political party". About

1330-528: A manufacturing and distribution license with Simint in 1991 when the company launched A|X Armani Exchange. By 1993, the Armani name was represented by 23 licensees and two large joint ventures in Japan . By the 1990s, the company's strategy was to cancel licenses and take production in-house in a bid to exert more control over quality and distribution. Manufacturing arrangements later brought back in-house include

1425-405: A minority stake. In February 2020, Armani was the first fashion brand to decide to close its runway shows to the public amid the beginning COVID-19 pandemic , holding the event without an audience. By March 2020, all of its Italian production plants started producing single-use medical overalls. In 2021, luxury yacht maker The Italian Sea Group announced that Giorgio Armani SpA would invest in

1520-578: A month later, a two-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, K. G. Balakrishnan , described the case as "frivolous" and believed that such complaints against celebrities were filed for "cheap publicity" and have brought a bad name to the country. They ruled that Gere would remain free to enter the country. Gere contributed some of his writing for the book We Are One: A Celebration of Tribal Peoples , released in October 2009. Gere discussed

1615-490: A namesake fine watches collection in collaboration with Swiss watchmaker Parmigiani Fleurier , the first such project for the designer. The Armani label also consists of a furniture and home collection called Armani/Casa . While the Italian word "casa" usually means "house", its usage here instead means "at home". Giorgio Armani launched his interior design collection in 2000 with a flagship store opening in Milan, Italy

1710-476: A new joint venture with the shoe manufacturer I Guardi, as part of a strategy of bringing manufacturing under its control. Beginning in 2007, the company teamed up with Samsung to develop a line of high-end electronic goods. In 2007, Giorgio Armani confirmed to Reuters that he had been approached by Beiersdorf in 2005 about a potential merger but had since been too distracted by other projects to pursue that option. In 2016, he confirmed he had established

1805-615: A party for Clapton's Crossroads guitar auction. The Oxford Art Journal made note in their article, "Hermes in Asia: Haute Couture, High Art and The Marketplace", that the designer took influences from other cultures as inspiration for some of his works and cited his Japanese designs as examples. Armani also prepared to break into the Chinese market by opening up his first store in that country in 1998. A small shop in Beijing

1900-466: A restructuring in 2017, Armani Casa – alongside Giorgio Armani Privé – was folded into Giorgio Armani. Confectionery is also under the Armani name. The brand was established in 2002. For the creations and collections, Armani collaborates with the Italian chocolate manufacturer Guido Gobino . Armani/Dolci sells chocolates, jams, honey, tea, shortbread biscuits, sugar and pralines . The brand

1995-609: A restructuring in 2017, Armani Collezioni – alongside Armani Jeans – was folded into Emporio Armani. Previously labeled Giorgio Armani Atelier, Armani Privé is the label for the designer’s made-to-order pieces. Under the Privé label, the brand offers the couture collection, fragrances and jewelry. In 1980, Armani partnered with L'Oreal on a licensing agreement for the production and distribution of fragrances, cosmetics and beauty products in 1980 It launched its first women's fragrance in 1982 and its first men's fragrance in 1984. Over

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2090-550: A series of special CD compilations curated by Giorgio Armani with DJ-sound designer Matteo Ceccarini , offering an eclectic mix of conceptual sounds and underground rhythms. Giorgio Armani has a keen interest in sports. He is the president of the Olimpia Milano basketball team, and an Inter Milan fan. Armani has twice designed suits for the England national football team. He has since designed suits worn by players of

2185-838: Is a co-founder of the Tibet House US , creator of the Gere Foundation, and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the International Campaign for Tibet . Because he supports the Tibetan Independence Movement , Gere is permanently banned from entering China . In 1993, Gere was banned from being an Academy Award presenter after he denounced the Chinese government while announcing the nominees. In September 2007, Gere called for

2280-415: Is a partnership with Roca , which provides Giorgio Armani with bathroom furniture and accessories. The sub-label consisting of variegated products is sold in 183 independent Armani stores as well as selected retailers throughout the world. Armani/Casa is used in the Armani hotels, equipped John Mayers New York City apartment and decorated the scenes for the 2013 film Paranoia . As part of

2375-695: Is an American actor. He began appearing in films in the 1970s, playing a supporting role in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) and a starring role in Days of Heaven (1978). Gere came to prominence with his role in the film American Gigolo (1980), which established him as a leading man and a sex symbol . Gere's other films include An Officer and a Gentleman (1982), The Cotton Club (1984), No Mercy (1986), Pretty Woman (1990), Sommersby (1993), Intersection (1994), First Knight (1995), Primal Fear (1996), Runaway Bride (1999), Dr. T &

2470-563: Is credited with pioneering red-carpet fashion. Armani was born in the northern Italian town of Piacenza , where he was raised with his older brother Sergio and younger sister Rosanna by his mother Maria Raimondi and father Ugo Armani (an accountant for a transport company). While at secondary school at the Liceo Scientifico Leonardo da Vinci in Milan, Armani aspired to follow a career in medicine, particularly after reading A. J. Cronin 's The Citadel . He enrolled in

2565-459: Is mostly part of other Armani stores but has an independent boutique in Taichung, Taiwan . In total, 152 stores sell Armani/Dolci products. Over the years, Armani created various limited Armani/Dolci products to celebrate special occasions. For example, Armani designed chocolate Easter eggs, heart-shaped boxes with red, pink and lilac chocolate truffles for Valentine's Day , as well as

2660-659: Is no clear evidence either way. In 1995, Gere was the president of the jury at the 19th Moscow International Film Festival . On May 17, 2012, Albanian President , Bamir Topi awarded the Medal of Gratitude to Gere with the citation: "With gratitude and honor outstanding personality of the world art, great humanist and activist for the protection of human rights, which unmasked and the American public made known, and further, inhuman crimes, ethnic cleansing in Kosovo , in 1999 ,

2755-722: The 14th Dalai Lama in India and became a practicing Tibetan Buddhist (specifically of the Gelugpa school) and an active supporter of the Dalai Lama. In February 2023, Gere was diagnosed and hospitalized with pneumonia during a family vacation in Nuevo Vallarta in Mexico . It was reported by his wife that he had fully recovered from his illness. Gere has often been included on lists of famous vegetarians; however, there

2850-464: The 52nd Grammy Awards and the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards . Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties PJSC signed an agreement in 2005 for Emaar Properties PJSC to build and operate at least seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts under the Giorgio Armani name. Giorgio Armani would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the interior design and style of the hotels. The Armani Hotel

2945-603: The Armani name. Armani would be responsible for overseeing all aspects of the interior design and style of the hotels. The Armani hotel was opened in Burj Khalifa on April 27, 2010, comprising the bottom 39 floors of the supertall skyscraper in Dubai , United Arab Emirates . It has 160 guest rooms and suites, and 144 residences. Giorgio Armani also designed the interiors of the Armani Residences, also within

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3040-735: The Hamptons International Film Festival and the Career Achievement Award from the Hollywood Film Awards . Gere had earlier received an award from the 34th Cairo International Film Festival in December 2010. Gere made a notable departure from his traditional screen persona with Joseph Cedar 's political drama Norman (2016). The film saw Gere portray Norman Oppenheimer, a small-time Jewish fixer . Gere himself described

3135-512: The Nino Cerruti company, where he designed menswear. His skills were in demand, and for the next decade, while continuing to work for Cerruti, Armani also freelanced, contributing designs to as many as ten manufacturers at a time. In the late 1960s, Armani met Sergio Galeotti , an architectural draftsman, which marked the beginning of a personal and professional relationship that lasted for many years. In 1973, Galeotti persuaded him to open

3230-469: The United States , Canada , Central and South America and Asia-Pacific . By 2006, A|X Armani Exchange launched a sunglasses line under license with Safilo . Initially, the company held 25% of Presidio Holdings, with the remaining 75% being in the hands of Como Holdings. In 2008, Giorgio Armani acquired an additional 25% stake. In 2014, it acquired the remaining 50% "ensuring full ownership of

3325-503: The war in Iraq was not supported by the American people and that the Bush administration had "bullied" Americans into the decision. He called George W. Bush a "very poor president". In a press conference held on the sidelines of the 34th Cairo International Film Festival , Gere said, "I'm very sorry about what the U.S. has done in Iraq. This war has been a tragedy for everyone. I hope that

3420-687: The Giorgio Armani Foundation which, while aiming to fund social projects, is also to "safeguard the governance assets of the Armani Group and ensure that these assets are kept stable over time." As part of his succession plan, the foundation will own an undisclosed stake in the company, with the rest going to his family. By 2017, the company was seen as a prime candidate for a stock market listing. In 2021, Giorgio Armani ruled out merging with either LVMH or Kering and reportedly also ruled out an offer by Stellantis to acquire

3515-559: The London club Chelsea since August 2007. He designed the Italian flag bearers' outfits at the opening ceremony at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin , and also designed Italy's Olympic uniforms for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Armani also designed and introduced the EA7 range, a brand inspired by Ukrainian footballer Andriy Shevchenko , who at the time played for A.C. Milan and wore

3610-504: The New York show, Pier Paolo Pasolini: The Eyes of a Poet. This show was an exhibition taking an inside look into artist Pasolini, specifically, it presented people twenty-two films. Although, Pasolini was known for a plethora of things, knowing that he created works mostly in the form of film or writing shows another side of Armani demonstrating an example of his appreciation of the arts. Armani established an innovative relationship with

3705-521: The Ritz Theatre and closed after three performances. Following that, he appeared in the original London stage version of Grease , in 1973. Gere was one of the first notable Hollywood actors to play a homosexual character, starring as a gay Holocaust victim in the 1979 Broadway production of Bent , for which he earned a Theatre World Award . Gere began appearing in Hollywood films in

3800-566: The Women (2000), Shall We Dance? (2004), I'm Not There (2007), Arbitrage (2012) and Norman (2016). For portraying Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago (2002), he won a Golden Globe Award . Gere was born in Philadelphia on August 31, 1949, the eldest son and second child of homemaker Doris Ann ( née Tiffany; 1924–2016) and NMIC insurance agent Homer George Gere (1922–2023). His father originally intended to become

3895-572: The acquisition of Antinea (1990), Simint (1996) and Intai (1998). In 2000, after buying factories from GFT, Armani formed a joint venture with Zegna for the production and distribution of the Collezioni men's collection. Armani also increased to 85 percent of its share in the joint venture in Japan with Itochu . In 2001, Armani commissioned architect Tadao Ando to transform an old Nestlé chocolate factory in Milan's Savona / Tortona area into

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3990-580: The action thriller The Jackal (1997), playing former IRA militant Declan Mulqueen; Gere affected an Irish accent for the role. Gere was named People magazine's " Sexiest Man Alive " in 1999. Not long thereafter, all in the same year, he appeared in the hit films The Mothman Prophecies (2002), Unfaithful (2002), and the Academy Award -winning musical film adaptation Chicago (2002), for which Gere won his first Golden Globe Award . His ballroom dancing drama Shall We Dance? (2004)

4085-429: The availability of "valid alternatives at our disposition that render the use of cruel practices unnecessary as regards animals." For its campaigns, the brand has worked with photographers including Sølve Sundsbø  (2015), Peter Lindbergh (2017) and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott (2019). Established in 1979, Armani Collezioni (known as Giorgio Armani Le Collezioni for women and Mani for men before 2000)

4180-399: The basketball side, they are the title sponsor and kit supplier of Olimpia Milano , and from the 2023/24 season also became the official kit supplier of Blu Basket 1971 . Established in 1981, Armani Jeans was a full casual sportswear collection. From 1997 on, the brand started to operate standalone stores. As part of a restructuring in 2017, Armani Jeans – alongside Armani Collezioni –

4275-540: The best reviews of his career. Gere was notably singled out for portraying businessman Robert Miller in Arbitrage (2012), earning his fourth Golden Globe Award nomination. Among many positive reviews, Peter Travers of Rolling Stone cited Gere's performance as "too good to ignore" and "an implosive tour de force". Also in 2012, he received the Golden Starfish Award for Lifetime Achievement from

4370-771: The board of directors for Healing the Divide, an organization that supports global initiatives to promote peace, justice and understanding. Gere helped to establish the AIDS Care Home, a residential facility in India for women and children with AIDS, and also supports campaigns for AIDS awareness and education in that country. In 1999, he created the Gere Foundation India Trust to support a variety of humanitarian programs in India. On April 15, 2007, Gere appeared at an AIDS awareness rally in Jaipur . During

4465-673: The boycott of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games to put pressure on China to make Tibet independent. He starred in a Free Tibet-themed Lancia commercial featuring the Lancia Delta . On June 27, 2011, Gere meditated in Borobudur Temple in Indonesia . He actively supports Survival International , an organization dedicated to protecting the rights and lands of tribal peoples throughout the world. Gere campaigns for ecological causes and AIDS awareness. He currently serves on

4560-439: The brand has worked with photographers including Alasdair McLellan (2012) and Mert Alas and Marcus Piggott . In 2013, Emporio Armani partnered with 21st Century Fox on the costumes for the cast of The Counselor . In 2004, Emporio Armani also teamed up with Reebok to create fashion shoes under the label EA7 . Emporio Armani is also the official kit supplier of Italian football side SSC Napoli under its EA7 brand. On

4655-570: The brand, which has 270 stores and over 3,000 employees", the company said in a statement. In 2008, A|X Armani Exchange redesigned its logo. As part of a relaunch and repositioning plan initiated in 2014, the collection was gradually introduced in Europe, too. Over the years, A|X Armani Exchange campaigns featured Cara Delevingne (2017), Martin Garrix (2017) and Li Yifeng (2017). Armani designs products for babies, toddlers, and teenagers under

4750-475: The challenge were a dress for her and a tuxedo for her then-husband, actor Colin Firth. As of 2009, Armani had a retail network of 60 Giorgio Armani boutiques, 11 Collezioni, 122 Emporio Armani, 94 A/X Armani Exchange, 1 Giorgio Armani Accessori, and 13 Armani Junior stores spread over 37 countries. As of 2017, he had an annual turnover of $ 1.6 billion and a personal fortune of $ 8.1 billion. In 2015, Giorgio Armani

4845-557: The character as an embodiment of the "sides of us we know are annoying and needy". His portrayal of Oppenheimer was called "consistently, completely fascinating" by RogerEbert.com and was singled out as a worthy Academy Award contender by Variety . Gere is an accomplished musician, composing and performing the Pretty Woman piano theme and a guitar solo in Runaway Bride . He studied tap for three months to shoot half

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4940-520: The collections, Armani uses precious materials like alabaster , black marble , and lacquered wood in the shape of cylinders, cubes, and rhomboids. Giorgio Armani also designed special floral arrangements for occasions like Valentine's Day and spring collections. The label's floral arrangements are used in the Armani hotels. Giorgio Armani and Emaar Properties PJSC signed an agreement in 2005 for Emaar Properties PJSC to build and operate at least seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts under

5035-483: The company's IPO at the Italian Bourse . Giorgio Armani (originally Giorgio Armani Borgonuovo) is a high-end label specializing in men's and women's ready-to-wear, accessories, glasses, cosmetics, and perfumes. It is available only in Giorgio Armani boutiques, specialty clothiers and select high-end department stores. The logo is a curved "G" completing a curved "A", forming a circle. In 2001, Armani created

5130-624: The company's headquarters. Also in the early 2000s, Armani opened five megastores designed by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas , starting with the opening of the Armani/Manzoni store in Milan in 2000, which carries all of the company's brands. Other such venues are in Hong Kong (Armani/ Chater House , opened in 2002), Munich (Armani/ Fünf Höfe , opened in 2003), Tokyo (Armani/Ginza Tower, opened in 2007) and New York City (Armani/ Fifth Avenue , opened in 2009). In 2002, Armani announced

5225-475: The couture line Armani Privé, Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani are the company's ready-to-wear lines that show at Milan Fashion Week . Selling at lower prices are Armani Collezioni, Armani Exchange and Armani Jeans. Armani and his partner, architect Sergio Galeotti , founded Giorgio Armani SpA in 1975, reportedly on money from the sale of Armani's Volkswagen . Armani signed a license with Gruppo Finanziario Tessile (GFT) in 1978. The company also entered into

5320-674: The department of medicine at the University of Milan , but in 1953 after attending for three years, he left and joined the army . Due to his medical educational background, he was assigned to the Military Hospital in Verona, where he would attend shows at the Arena . He eventually decided to look for a different career path. After serving in the military for two years, Armani became a window dresser and sales clerk at La Rinascente ,

5415-425: The designers a percentage of the profits. New designers such as Armani could begin their businesses free from debt, with ambitious fashion shows and advertising campaigns. Over the years the designer has made it very evident that he chooses not only to support the fashion industry, but to add to the art field as well. The information provided by The Museum of Modern Art gives an example of how in 1990 Armani supported

5510-761: The fact that there are only a "few ornaments" used but with "artistic detail" which seems to have a "tremendous effect on the style and furniture" itself. Armani collaborates with Rubelli and the Molteni Group to build the home collection. As the Architectural Digest reported in February 2012, Armani/Casa includes state-of-the-art kitchens, sold under the Armani/Dada name – a partnership with Molteni Group, as well as luxurious fabrics produced in collaboration with Rubelli . Armani/Roca

5605-607: The fashion industry, characterized by the 1978 agreement with Gruppo Finanzario Tessile (GFT), which made it possible to produce luxury ready-to-wear in a manufacturing environment under the attentive supervision of the company's designer. In 1979, after founding the Giorgio Armani Corporation, Armani began producing for the United States and introduced the Main line for men and women. The label became one of

5700-579: The globe, which only sell the sub-label. The label is also sold in other stores by the label including Armani/Casa , Armani Jeans or Emporio Armani . In total, 308 independent and franchise Armani stores sell the Armani Junior and Armani Baby products throughout the whole world. In addition, the label is available in selected department stores everywhere in the world, for example, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue , Breuninger and Peek & Cloppenburg . In May 2014, actress Quvenzhané Wallis

5795-604: The introduction of Emporio Underwear, Swimwear, and Accessories. A new store was opened in Milan for the Emporio line, followed by the first Giorgio Armani boutique. Armani's concern for the end user culminated in the development of a more youthful product with the same level of stylistic quality as his high-end line, but at a more accessible price. Because of the nature of the Emporio line, Armani felt that he had to make use of new and unconventional advertising methods. These included television spots and enormous street ads, together with

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5890-476: The labels Armani Junior (ages five to 14) and Armani Baby (for children up to the age of four). The Armani Junior brand was introduced in 1979. The junior line consists of baby clothing, accessories, T-shirts, pullovers, suits, shoes, hats, shirts, belts, bags, and underwear. In 2006, Giorgio Armani signed a licensing agreement with Mirella Srl for the production and distribution of the two lines’ footwear. Armani Junior has 167 independent boutiques around

5985-400: The late 1980s. A|X Armani Exchange was launched in 1991 in the U.S. It retails fashion and lifestyle products and is known for its occasionally provocative ad campaigns. Inspired by street-chic culture and dance music, it is targeted as the more accessible Armani brand. A|X Armani Exchange products are available exclusively in 270 stores in 31 countries and on the brand's website. The line

6080-479: The leading names in international fashion with the introduction of several new product lines, including G. A. Le Collezioni, Giorgio Armani Underwear and Swimwear, and Giorgio Armani Accessories. In the early 1980s, the company signed an important agreement with L'Oréal to create perfumes and cosmetics Armani Beauty and introduced the Armani Junior, Armani Jeans, and Emporio Armani lines, followed in 1982 by

6175-463: The mid-1970s. Originally cast in a starring role in The Lords of Flatbush (1974), he was replaced after fighting with his co-star Sylvester Stallone . Gere played a small but significant part in Looking for Mr. Goodbar (1977) and starred in director Terrence Malick 's well-reviewed drama Days of Heaven (1978). The crime drama American Gigolo (1980) significantly boosted his profile and

6270-460: The most important of which was The Untouchables (1987). In 1983, the designer modified his agreement with GFT. They began to produce both the Mani line for the United States and his high-end ready-to-wear line, rechristened Borgonuovo 21, after the address of the company headquarters. During the late 1980s, despite Galeotti's death in 1985, Armani continued to expand commercial horizons and licensing agreements. He opened Armani Japan and introduced

6365-457: The number 7 jersey. As regards sports , Armani owns Italian basketball club Olimpia Milano and has designed uniforms for the Italian Olympic and Paralympic teams. Chelsea commissioned Armani to create a new look for its Directors' Suite at Stamford Bridge . Beginning in 2021, Giorgio Armani entered into a multi-year sponsorship agreement as an official supplier to Scuderia Ferrari . Armani will provide official and travel ensembles to members of

6460-664: The only two ready-to-wear brands that are mainly designed by Giorgio Armani himself, and have a spotlight at Milan Fashion Week every year while Armani Collezioni, Armani Jeans, and Armani Exchange do not. Emporio Armani products are usually only sold in freestanding Emporio Armani boutiques and on the official website. Over the years, Emporio Armani underwear campaigns featured David Beckham (2008–2010), Victoria Beckham (2009), Cristiano Ronaldo (2010), Megan Fox (2010), Rihanna (2011), Rafael Nadal (2011) and Calvin Harris (2015). The brand's watch ad campaign has featured Shawn Mendes (2019), among others. For its campaigns,

6555-452: The past who created other types of art. Because of how valuable and detailed his job is, it often forms a bridge from fashion to art. An example is the Guggenheim Museum in New York hosted an exhibition of Armani's work – a first for a living designer – with an average attendance of 29,000 a week. This is referenced in the periodical The Aesthetics of Smelly Art, inside the Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism. In 2008, Armani designed

6650-443: The people of Iraq can rebuild their country." In 2016, Gere endorsed Hillary Clinton for president and donated $ 2,700 to her campaign . In 2017, Gere criticized Benjamin Netanyahu 's policies on the Palestinians and Israel 's expansion of settlements in the occupied West Bank , stating, "Settlements are such an absurd provocation and, certainly in the international sense, completely illegal—and they are certainly not part of

6745-423: The persecution and loss of land of the Jumma people as an example of a tragic story that repeats itself in different continents of the world, calling attention to the crime against their peaceful culture and how it reflects on humanity's relationship with nature and capacity to survive. The royalties from the book's sale go to the indigenous rights organization Survival International . In 2010, Gere stated that

6840-599: The program of someone who wants a genuine peace process." In February 2023, Gere was one of the 480 global figures who signed a statement from Freedom House expressing support for Mahsa Amini protesters , urging sanctions on Iranian officials, and calling for the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to be proscribed as a terror group. Gere had on-again/off-again relationships with actress Penelope Milford from 1971 to 1978, and painter Sylvia Martins from 1978 to 1986. During those years, he

6935-570: The quality and distribution of his products. Armani's men's and women's skiwear and ski casualwear line was developed in 1995. His 1991 project, A/X: Armani Exchange, represented Armani's attempt to break into the American mass market, offering lower prices for relaxed chic clothes. In 1996 his long-time friend Eric Clapton composed songs for Armani's fashion shows and has since dressed in Armani. Later that year Clapton opened two Emporio Armani stores in New York City . In 1998 Armani hosted

7030-405: The releases of Internal Affairs (1990) and Pretty Woman (1990), the latter of which earned Gere his second Golden Globe Award nomination. The 1990s saw Gere star in successful films including Sommersby (1993) (opposite Jodie Foster ), Primal Fear (1996) and Runaway Bride (1999) (which reunited him with his Pretty Woman co-star Julia Roberts ). He also took a leading role in

7125-403: The romantic drama An Officer and a Gentleman (1982) (co-starring Debra Winger ) cemented Gere's ascent to stardom, grossing almost $ 130 million and winning two Academy Awards out of six nominations; Gere himself received his first Golden Globe Award nomination. For the remainder of the 1980s, Gere appeared in films of varying critical and commercial reception. His career rebounded with

7220-484: The same year. When Armani was asked about why he wanted a furniture line, Armani said that he wanted "people to design their own private home". "Designing this furniture and home collection helped me to stimulate my creative and artistic vein", Armani said. Critics responded very positively to the Armani/Casa label calling the style "simply elegant, a little retro with Ethno elements" to it. A lot of critics also liked

7315-642: The skyscraper, and its specially designed line of products from the Armani/Casa home furnishings collection and the Armani/Fiori flower arrangements. The "Burj Khalifa Armani Residences Road Show" toured Milan, London , Jeddah , Moscow and New Delhi . The London event was housed in the Armani Casa Showroom in New Bond Street . Richard Gere Richard Tiffany Gere ( / ɡ ɪər / GEER ; born August 31, 1949)

7410-532: The team in return for brand exposure and association with the world's number-one brand and most popular motorsport team. Armani is an intensely private man, but has publicly identified as bisexual. He had a longstanding relationship with his business partner, the fashion designer Sergio Galeotti , who died of a heart attack in 1985. He has some relatives in the United States as well. Giorgio Armani spends much of his time according to family on his over 200 ft yacht and loves sailing. Armani In addition to

7505-700: The trumpet. Gere attended the University of Massachusetts Amherst on a gymnastics scholarship, studying philosophy; after two years, he left and did not graduate. Gere first worked professionally at the Seattle Repertory Theatre and the Provincetown Playhouse on Cape Cod in 1969, where he starred in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead . His first major acting role was in the 1971 rock opera Soon , written by Scott Fagan and Joe Kookoolis, which opened on Broadway at

7600-525: The two freestanding boutiques (which feature the Collezioni line exclusively) in Milan and Paris , Armani Collezioni was usually sold in department stores and outlets while Giorgio Armani and Emporio Armani are only sold in freestanding boutiques. A sporty line of the label has appeared named "Armani Collezioni Active" in the same way as the EA7 line from the Emporio Armani line. As part of

7695-541: The world. The flowers used for the Armani/Fiori arrangements come mostly from the Netherlands . The label uses a large selection of orchids , as well as exotic and tropical flowers alongside more traditional flowers such as hydrangeas , roses and peonies . Each collection is personally designed by Giorgio Armani himself as he wants to transport an "Asian feel". In addition, Armani/Fiori offers decorative elements like vases, flowerpots, candles and lanterns. For

7790-521: The years, cosmetics campaigns featured Beyoncé (2008), Kasia Smutniak (2009), Megan Fox (2010), Cate Blanchett  (2013), Valentina Sampaio (2021), Tessa Thompson (2022), Regé-Jean Page (2022), Sydney Sweeney (2023) and Aaron Taylor-Johnson (2024). Established in 1981, Emporio Armani is the second brand of the Armani family and features ready-to-wear and runway collections. Emporio Armani focuses on trends and modern traits. Also, Emporio Armani , along with Giorgio Armani , are

7885-512: Was a pioneer in online communication and retailing, launching its armaniexchange.com site in 1995 and adding online sales in 1997. To accelerate the development of the nascent line, Giorgio Armani co-established the joint venture company Presidio Holdings Ltd in 2005 alongside Como Holdings, the company owned by the Singaporean tycoon Ong Beng Seng that, since 1994, has held the production and distribution license for A/X Armani Exchange in

7980-663: Was also a solid performer that grossed $ 170 million worldwide. His next film, the book-to-screen adaptation Bee Season (2005), was a commercial failure. Gere went on to co-star with Jesse Eisenberg and Terrence Howard in The Hunting Party (2007), a thriller in which he played a journalist in Bosnia . He next appeared with Christian Bale , Heath Ledger and Cate Blanchett in Todd Haynes ' semi-biographical film about Bob Dylan , I'm Not There (2007); Gere

8075-455: Was also sporadically linked with Tuesday Weld , Carole Mallory , Dawn Steel , Loree Rodkin , Barbara Carrera , and Barbra Streisand . It was suggested that Gere had affairs with Priscilla Presley and Kim Basinger in tell-all books written by Presley's ex-boyfriend Michael Edwards and Basinger's ex-husband Ron Snyder. Gere has also reportedly dated models Laura Bailey , Tina Chow , Dalila Di Lazzaro , and Padma Lakshmi . He

8170-525: Was an artist who was a part of the Paris Photography Public Programme. This event helped showcase a variety of special exhibitions. As an official partner, Armani's ACQUA #6, represented works that focus on the theme of water in photography. In 2001, Armani was acclaimed as the most successful designer of Italian origin. Armani is credited with pioneering red-carpet fashion. Armani was the first designer to ban models with

8265-504: Was folded into Emporio Armani. In 1987, Giorgio Armani Occhiali was established. In 1988, the company entered into a licensing agreement with Luxottica for eyewear. From 2003 until 2012, Safilo Group held the exclusive license for Armani-branded eyewear before losing it again to Luxottica until 2037. As part of the brand's first-ever eyewear collection in 2021, it presented a pair of oval-shaped wire-rimmed silver glasses that Giorgio Armani has worn, in sunglass and reading form, since

8360-465: Was followed by a flagship store in Shanghai in 2004 and plans for 40 by 2011. In 2000, Giorgio Armani SpA was introducing new lines of cosmetics and home furnishings, and expanding its line of accessories. Armani has had a broad level of influence internationally because his work has reached far beyond just clothes and accessories of haute couture. His work can be referenced with many famous artists of

8455-580: Was married to model Cindy Crawford from 1991 to 1995. In November 2002, Gere married model and actress Carey Lowell . They have a son, Homer James Jigme Gere, who was born in February 2000 and is named for his grandfathers as well as the Tibetan name "Jigme". In September 2013, the two separated after 11 years of marriage. They spent three years in highly contested divorce proceedings in New York County Supreme Court . The case

8550-495: Was named the face of Armani Junior . Launched in 1995, Armani developed a collection of men's and women's skiwear and apres-ski casualwear called Giorgio Armani Neve, produced by the Skinea company, a division of Gruppo Belfe. It was re-launched in 2022. Giorgio Armani Orologi was established in 1997. In 2014, the company entered into a licensing agreement with Fossil for watches and jewelry. In 2021, Giorgio Armani launched

8645-486: Was now ready to devote his energy to his own label, and on 24 July 1975, he founded Giorgio Armani S.p.A. in Milan, with his friend Galeotti. In October of that same year, he presented his first collection of men's ready-to-wear for Spring and Summer of 1976 under his own name. He also produced a women's line for the same season. Italian manufacturers had begun to invest in local designers and did so on unusually favourable terms. They financed production and marketing and paid

8740-755: Was one of six actors to portray a variation of Dylan. He co-starred with Diane Lane in the romantic drama Nights in Rodanthe (2008). The film was widely panned by critics (making #74 on The Times Worst Films of 2008 list), but grossed over $ 84 million worldwide. The film is his most recent to have been produced entirely by a major film studio . Gere has expressed a belief that his politics regarding China, an important financial resource for major Hollywood studios, have made him unwelcome within Hollywood . Gere embraced his apparent exile from Hollywood and instead appeared in independent films that garnered some of

8835-582: Was opened in Burj Khalifa on 27 April 2010, comprising the bottom 39 floors of the supertall skyscraper in Dubai , United Arab Emirates ; it has 160 guest rooms and suites, and 144 residences. Giorgio Armani is also designing the interiors of the Armani Residences, also within the skyscraper, and its specially designed line of products from the Armani/Casa home furnishings collection. Armani Musica presents Emporio Armani Caffè compilations,

8930-641: Was settled in October 2016. In early April 2018, Gere married Spanish activist Alejandra Silva . In August 2018, they announced that they were expecting their first child. Their son, Alexander, was born in February 2019. In April 2020, the birth of their second son was reported. Gere's interest in Buddhism began when he was in his 20s. Gere first studied Zen Buddhism under Kyozan Joshu Sasaki . After studying Zen for five or six years, he and Brazilian painter Sylvia Martins traveled in 1978 to Nepal , where Gere met many Tibetan monks and lamas. He then met

9025-417: Was the diffusion line of Giorgio Armani that retailed at a lower price than Giorgio Armani and the haute couture line, Armani Privé . The logo was usually displayed in black and written on a white label but often varies. "Armani" being larger and "Collezioni" underneath it. Armani Collezioni provided made-to-measure tailored suits and shirts where every element can be chosen. In addition to being sold in

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