The iconic Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has passed away aged 91, according to a statement released by his company. “With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani,” read the announcement.

“Il Signor Armani, as he was always respectfully and admiringly called by employees and collaborators, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones,” it continued. “Indefatigable to the end, he worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”

The announcement comes just days after Mr Armani publicised his plans for succession following a period of ill health. “My plans for succession consist of a gradual transition of the responsibilities that I have always handled to those closest to me,” he told the Financial Times’ How To Spend It magazine on August 29, “such as Leo Dell’Orco, the members of my family and the entire working team.”

In the statement released today, the employees of the Armani Group also wrote a sweet tribute to their late boss, stating that, “in this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication.” Mr Armani’s employees and family members also added that, following his death, they will commit to “protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”

Mr Armani was born in Piacenza, Italy in 1934 and founded his namesake label on July 24, 1975. Celebrated for his pioneering take on tailoring, Mr Armani introduced a softer, more unstructured suiting style that has become synonymous with the Armani brand, influencing legions of designers since its inception and still resonating today. “Over the years, Giorgio Armani has crafted a vision that expanded from fashion to every aspect of life, anticipating the times with extraordinary clarity and pragmatism,” the house said today. “He has been driven by relentless curiosity and a deep attention to the present and to people.” RIP Mr Armani.