THE PHENOMENON CALLED MR ARMANI

Fashion’s living legend and the ultimate powerhouse of sophistication, Giorgio Armani talks to Kamna Malik about his lifelong belief in sustainable fashion

- Kamna Malik

When I think of ‘Armani,’ I instantly see this image of someone powerful, but in an understated manner. Rather, let me be honest here, I think of George Clooney looking sexy and suave! Apart from being a huge fan of Giorgio Armani’s work, he is also someone who intrigues me – I see him as a rule-breaker. Back in February 2020, when no one had imagined the prolonged pandemic, Armani powered the tough decision of hosting his upcoming show behind closed doors. Despite months of planning the live show, he led the revolution of virtual presentations. The fashion world has changed drastically since then, and ironically, Armani’s trend-free approach has emerged as a trend lately.

He’s an institution in himself; yet, don’t be surprised if you spot him at an Armani store window, fixing mannequins. Even after spending a lifetime in the industry, he likes to personally look into the minutest of details. The veteran still styles all his shows himself, sometimes teaching models ‘the signature Armani walk’ or sometimes, even touching-up their make-up, if required. For ELLE’s 24th anniversary issue, we decided to reach out to the legend who never consciously sought to create a revolution, but ended up becoming a synonym to fashion. Here are a few excerpts:

Kamna Malik: Considering a world post the pandemic, do you have any long-term action points for the brand Armani?