Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani, whose name became a global symbol of elegance and sophistication, has died at the age of 91, the company announced on Thursday.Armani was credited with redefining modern Italian style by marrying minimalist design with timeless sophistication. From his sharply tailored suits to fluid evening gowns, his creations were a fixture on red carpets, in boardrooms, and across the world’s fashion capitals.Beyond his creative genius, Armani was also an astute businessman. He built his eponymous fashion house into one of the most successful independent brands in the industry, generating annual revenues of around €2.3 billion ($2.7 billion).Born in Piacenza, Italy, in 1934, Armani began his career in window dressing before moving into fashion design in the 1960s. By 1975, he had launched his own label, and within a decade his clean-lined “power suits” became emblematic of 1980s ambition and success.Often called the “king of Italian fashion,” Armani remained active in the company well into his later years, avoiding outside investors and maintaining independence in an era of major luxury conglomerates.Tributes from across the fashion world are expected to pour in for a designer whose influence stretched far beyond the runway, shaping how the world perceived Italian style.