Milan: The global fashion industry is in mourning following the death of legendary Italian designer Giorgio Armani, who passed away peacefully at the age of 91 surrounded by family, the Armani Group confirmed on Thursday.

Tributes flooded social media within moments of the announcement, as models, celebrities, athletes, and fashion houses paid homage to the man widely known as “Re Giorgio” (King Giorgio) for redefining modern elegance.

Fellow designer Donatella Versace was among the first to react, posting a broken heart emoji and writing: “The world lost a giant today. He made history and will be remembered forever.”

Vogue hailed him in a heartfelt tribute, calling Armani a visionary who “defined the 1980s and shaped the course of fashion beyond it.”

From royalty to sports stars, messages poured in. Princess Diana’s niece Lady Amelia Spencer left a string of red heart emojis, while Formula 1 star Charles Leclerc shared: “A great honor to have had the chance to meet and work with such an amazing person. You will be missed Giorgio.”

Model and actress Alexis Ren, Italian actress Alice Pagani, TV star Simona Ventura, and soccer player Alexandre Pato also shared emotional tributes. Fashion editor Anna Dello Russo wrote: “Bon voyage Maestro Giorgio. I’ll always carry you in my heart,” while photographer Nima Benati called his passing “a tremendous loss.”

Bollywood actress Sonam Kapoor immediately took to her social media account to offer condolences and was the first one from the Hindi entertainment industry to do so.

Sharing a picture of herself with the legendary fashion designer, Sonam Kapoor wrote, “Thank you, Mr Armani, you will be missed.” A decade ago, Sonam Kapoor had the privilege of travelling to Paris to pay homage to none other than Giorgio Armani to celebrate his 40 years in fashion.

Armani’s influence extended far beyond the runway. Known for his signature soft tailoring, muted tones, and iconic black-tie looks, he dressed Hollywood’s elite for red carpets and revolutionized power dressing for women. His empire—spanning clothing, accessories, fragrances, cosmetics, and even chocolates—was valued at over $10 billion, making him one of the world’s richest designers.

Despite his global fame, Armani remained deeply hands-on, once admitting in his final interview last weekend: “My greatest weakness is that I am in control of everything.”

The Armani Group issued a heartfelt statement: “Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. In his spirit, we commit to protecting what he built and carrying his company forward with respect, responsibility, and love.”

Armani, who had been in declining health and missed his Milan Fashion Week shows for the first time this year, will be honored with a funeral chamber in Milan this weekend, followed by a private ceremony.

For the fashion world, Armani’s passing marks the end of an era—but his legacy of timeless elegance will continue to inspire generations.