For Giorgio Armani, work is an act of love

Piacenza, Milan, the world and back. With a graduate cap on his head. Last may 11, Giorgio Armani took the stage at Teatro municipale in his hometown to receive an honorary degree in global business management conferred by the Catholic university of the sacred heart. Representing the fifth academic award after the ones received from the Royal college of London, Brera academy, Central Saint Martins, and Polytechnic university of Milan, this degree is special because it represents as well a walk into remembrance. This diploma «has a doubly special value, because it rewards, beyond the creative aspect, my role as an entrepreneur, the commitment and passion that over the years have allowed me to transform a dream into a solid group, a symbol of the Made in Italy. It is also special because it is given to me in my hometown, in a magical place full of memories that fascinated me so much as a child. I left Piacenza to look for my path, which I found in Milan, but my roots are and will always remain here», Giorgio Armani began in the speech accepting his honorary degree, motivated by rector Franco Anelli and Anna Maria Fellegara, dean of the faculty of economics and law, highlighting the designer’s ability to honor the image of Piacenza and Italy in the world, picking up «the tradition of italian expertise, which is rooted in the territory, in the trades and works of artisans to reinterpret it and make it a universal iconic reference».

The gaze does not stop here, but it rather looks to the future. «This is not a retrospective celebration, but a stage in a journey from which we still expect much», the rector remarked. This is also the case for Giorgio Armani, who retraced some of the stages of his working life and human story, also dwelling on the dedication and sacrifices made in the name of a company. «This day does not have to be a conclusion. However, it made me remember a challenging path where I had to forget myself, and this is something I advise you not to do. Work, hang in there, but do not forget that going home you have a cat, a dog, a child, a mother, a grandmother or a lover, because going forward, you need people by your side», the designer said addressing his most heartfelt thoughts to the young people in particular who filled the stalls seats in the 18th-century theater. «I overcame difficulties with commitment and rigor. The same values that I sowed in my family and that I invite to follow to shape what one believes in. Everything that requires commitment, it lasts». The theme of time was the common thread of this day of celebration, in a historical time when, as the designer said, «ephemeral successes multiply».

The designer was echoed by rector Anelli: «The balance of Armani’s work could be drawn from the assumption, in all its implications, of the problematic dimension of time. Duration, for him, is a choice that concerns form and content. Proportion of line and quality of material speak of a product designed to withstand the exhaustion of a collection with ease. The other crucial aspect can be found in what cannot always be measured, namely talent, passion, and heart. “I want to think about a future I still like, I want it to be rosy, productive. I would like young people to understand this, I would like my story to be an example and an incentive to remind everyone that real work pays off. Every idea is the result of falling in love and this work, which for me is life, is a perpetual act of love». This perpetual momentum has led him to the top of the fashion world, to the helm of a group which registered 4 billion euros in sales in 2021 (sales made by the group and third-party licenses, ed.) and a consolidated net profit of 169.9 million euros, with 8,304 employees, and 9 production plants. A story of success, hard work, stubbornness and, above all, beauty, as Giorgio Armani told in this interview.

What does this acknowledgement represent for you?

It is undoubtedly an important title awarded to the entrepreneur Giorgio Armani, the figure I had to create from nothing by overcoming moments of great difficulty. It is a recognition of my resourcefulness in business, a quality that I have always combined, by necessity and by choice, with my creative streak as a designer. The fact this event is taking place in my hometown gives it a particularly deep and personal flavor.

You have been acknowledged as one of the top managers with the best reputation. What are the greatest qualities of a manager and what are yours?

I realized what they were along the way. A manager has to have a vision, independence, and the ability to surround themselves with trusted people from whom they get the best. They must carry out their ideas with perseverance, determination, and a sense of responsibility. Everything that has brought me success has been accomplished the way I wanted it to be, even and especially by going against the grain. It is not always easy, and it often does not make you sleep at night, but I do not think I would have gotten here if I had not been able to think this way.

As the leader of a company, what do you see in Armani’s future?

For the future, I see a company that is strong and up to date. A group that will be able to follow the path I have laid out, carried forward by the people who have been with me over the years. My recipe is clear, and also extremely diverse, observing reality through an equally clear code. For now, however, I am still here.

Could you give us a memory of how your personal and business adventure began and how fashion has changed today?

My adventure in fashion began after a job at Rinascente and at Nino Cerruti, when I had a fortuitous meeting with Sergio Galeotti, with whom I started the Giorgio Armani adventure. It was the time when Italian ready-to-wear was born, I remember a great fluidity of experiences and possibilities, and then the general enthusiasm and energy. Since then, fashion has become a titanic system, governed by logics that are not always those of producing and selling beauty. Finance has perhaps somewhat polluted this world, which has been changed a lot by the search for entertainment. I remain convinced, however, that the essence of our work, which is to make clothes that are beautiful and meet real needs, is still the key to everything.

What advice would you give to Made in Italy?

To continue carry on that artisanal and industrial tradition that distinguishes us from the rest of the world. These characteristics are part of our manufacturing identity. (all rights reserved)