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ways knows more than he thinks, and can do more than he knows. When my partner died, many were certain that I would close down my company. Instead of that, I learned to do what he always did. So, nev- er underestimate your strength.” Armani has often stressed how he’s sacrificed a large part of his pri- vate life for his work, particular- ly in more recent years, but writ- ing in this book he emphasises the importance of the support of fam- ily and friends, although he admit- ted that he only completely trusts a few people. “I chose a title that is both soft and provocative, which is surprisingly representative of my character. I am pragmatic and ra- tional, but my actions all come from the heart”, he explains in the book. “That is why the scattered thoughts collected in this book are written out of love.” The great designer understands that he is perceived as a “composed, stern and, for some, terribly cold man” but he borrows the definition of artist Wassily Kandinsky: “I’m like a piece of ice with a flame burn- ing inside”. And for the love of what was this written? “Of expression, of vision, of taste, of style...” would be his response in his unique way. Writing in this book, Armani defines himself as “a man who gets things done, not one who just talks about them” - which is a somewhat modest statement considering that it comes from a man whose fashion empire (in which he simultaneously serves as company chairman, chief designer, CEO and creative direc- tor) ended last year with sales of 2.35 million euros, representing a 16.5% rise compared to 2021. Re- gardless, he believes that each new success represents the point of de- parture for a new challenge, and he detests the idea of resting on his laurels. This is the attitude of a man who claims to this day that “the dif- ference between style and fashion is in quality,” and who insists that “being elegant doesn’t mean stand- ing out, but rather being remem- bered.”

no Cerruti, who offered him the job of an assistant and gave him the op- portunity to work independently on pieces for his new collections. And so it was that the first Armani de- signs hit the market under Cerru- ti’s Hitman collection. In his latest confessions, the great Armani revealed key moments that shifted his perspective and ob- jectives, but also that encouraged him to reconsider his life. He also touched on the beginnings of the fashion house that bears his name. The book also casts light on previ- ously undisclosed details about the designer’s life partner, Sergio Gale- otti, who Armani says taught him how to see the world in a new way. Despite Galeotti having departed when he was just 40 years old, the designer claims that he changed his life by persuading him to launch his own brand. Galeotti’s belief in Arm- ani prompted the famous design- er to quit the job he’d had at the time and co-found fashion brand Giorgio Armani, in which Galeotti served as the managing director in charge of the corporation’s finances. Armani recalls how they launched their business in that fateful year of 1975 with a grandiose dream and a $90,000 loan. The emergence of the brand was marked by a desire to relocate the world’s “centre of intimate details of his life for the first time „Kralj Đorđo“, prvi put u 89. godini otkriva mnoge intimne detalje svog života At the age of 89, “King Giorgio” reveals many

Njegovo modno carstvo počiva na ideji o modi koja je decentna u krojevima i silueti, a vrhunska u materijalima i izvedbi His fashion empire is built on the idea of fashion that is restrained in its cuts and silhouettes, yet superior in its materials and implementation

fashion” from Paris and transform Milan into a new capital of fashion. This visionary’s dream was realised via the famous minimalist label that is proudly sewn into every Armani creation across the brand’s entire portfolio, representing ‘Made in It- aly’ across the entire world. Sergio and Giorgio met while on holiday in 1966, and it was be- cause of Armani himself that the young architect moved to Milan. They remained inseparable until 1985, when Sergio died of a heart attack. Devastated both personal- ly and professionally by the loss, Armani would later say, “a man al-

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