STORY: Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died, the company said on Thursday.

"With infinite sorrow, the Armani Group announces the passing of its creator, founder, and tireless driving force: Giorgio Armani," the fashion house said in a statement.

Armani, who was 91, was synonymous with modern Italian style and elegance. He combined the flair of the designer with the acumen of a businessman, running a company that turned over some 2.3 billion euros ($2.7 billion) a year.

He had been unwell for some time, and was forced to drop out of his group's shows at Milan's Men's Fashion Week in June, the first time in his career that he had missed one of his catwalk events.

Known as "Re Giorgio" - King Giorgio - the designer was known for overseeing every detail of his collection and every aspect of his business, from advertising to fixing models' hair as they head out on to the runway.

A funeral chamber will be set up on Saturday and Sunday in Milan, the company said, followed by a private funeral at an unspecified date.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

FILE: Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani has died

VIDEO SHOWS: VARIOUS FILE OF ITALIAN DESIGNER, GIORGIO ARMANI

PLEASE NOTE: THIS EDIT CONTAINS FOOTAGE THAT WAS ORIGINALLY 4:3 AND NIGHT SHOTS

SENDING WITH SHOTLIST. COMPLETE SCRIPT TO FOLLOW

SHOWS: LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - DECEMBER 2, 2019) (REUTERS - Access all)

1. (LEFT TO RIGHT) ACTOR CATE BLANCHETT, ITALIAN FASHION DESIGNER GIORGIO ARMANI AND ACTOR JULIA ROBERTS POSING FOR PHOTOS, WITH ARMANI'S NIECE ROBERTA ARMANI AND ACTOR LAUREN HUTTON AS THEY ARRIVE ON RED CARPET AT THE 2019 BRITISH FASHION AWARDS

2. BLANCHETT, ARMANI AND ROBERTS POSING FOR PHOTOS

3. VARIOUS OF ARMANI HOLDING ROBERTS' ARM AS THEY POSE FOR PHOTOS

VENICE, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 2, 2023) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

4. VARIOUS OF GIORGIO ARMANI WALKING ONTO CATWALK WITH MODEL AT THE END OF HIS “ONE NIGHT ONLY” VENICE FASHION SHOW AND WAVING AS HE WALKS AROUND CATWALK

5. ARMANI GREETING GUESTS

6. VARIOUS OF ARMANI POSING WITH MODELS

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 25, 2015) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

7. GIORGIO ARMANI, APPEARING ON CATWALK FROM BEHIND SIGN FOR EMPORIO ARMANI

PARIS, FRANCE (FILE - JULY 2, 2019) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

8. GIORGIO ARMANI WALKING ON RUNWAY AND GREETING AUDIENCE AT "GIORGIO ARMANI PRIVE" FASHION SHOW

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 28, 2015) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

9. GIORGIO ARMANI ON RUNWAY AFTER SHOW

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 28, 2015) (REUTERS - Access all)

10. VARIOUS OF ARMANI POSING FOR PHOTOS WITH ITALIAN ACTOR, SOPHIA LOREN

11. ARMANI ARRIVING AT THE PRESENTATION OF HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY BOOK

12. VARIOUS OF ARMANI AT PRESENTATION OF BOOK

13. PRESENTATION OF ARMANI'S AUTOBIOGRAPHY STARTING

14. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DESIGNER, GIORGIO ARMANI, SAYING:

"What I can briefly say so as to not bore you is that I wanted this book because I had memories, feelings inside of me that I wanted to share rather than take them away with me."

TOKYO, JAPAN (FILE - NOVEMBER 6, 2007) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all)

15. VARIOUS OF GIORGIO ARMANI TAKING PART IN A SHINTO CEREMONY TO OPEN HIS NEW ARMANI TOWER

16. EXTERIOR OF NEW ARMANI TOWER

17. GIORGIO ARMANI SIGN

18. VARIOUS OF ARMANI WALKING TOWARDS PHOTOGRAPHERS, WAVING AND POSING FOR PHOTOS

19. ARMANI AND REUTERS REPORTER DURING INTERVIEW

20. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FASHION DESIGNER, GIORGIO ARMANI, SAYING:

"It's an exploitation of the work of so many years - 35 years of work - I wouldn't want to see all that ground away only so whoever gains from it, gains from it. And then what happens with my business?"

21. ARMANI LISTENING TO QUESTIONS

22. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) FASHION DESIGNER, GIORGIO ARMANI, SAYING:

"No, at this moment no. You ask me in a moment when I just saw this beautiful property, this space. Finally I have proper luxury store like so many now say is necessary to have, and in Ginza, in this flourishing place. So you ask me at a moment when I am really not thinking about that (retirement)."

23. STORE ASSISTANT FOLDING TOP

24. VARIOUS OF INTERIOR OF ARMANI TOWER

25. ENTRANCE TO ARMANI SPA

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - SEPTEMBER 21, 2006) (ORIGINALLY 4:3) (REUTERS - Access all) (NIGHT SHOTS)

26. GIORGIO ARMANI MAKING A SURPRISE GUEST APPEARANCE AT LONDON FASHION WEEK

27. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DESIGNER GIORGIO ARMANI SAYING:

"London because it is a beautiful city. It is a city of fashion, a city where you can live in different ways. I have been in London many many years, I have many shops here, but I needed to have a closer relationship, to have a closer relationship with my clients."

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - MAY 10, 2012) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

28. VARIOUS OF GIORGIO ARMANI AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE ITALIAN OLYMPIC COMMITTEE, GIANNI PETRUCCI (R), SEATED AMONG AUDIENCE

29. ITALIAN ATHLETES WEARING OLYMPIC OUTFITS DESIGNED BY ARMANI

30. VARIOUS OF ARMANI WALKING TO ATHLETES AND POSING WITH THEM FOR PHOTOS

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - MAY 10, 2012) (REUTERS - Access all)

31. (SOUNDBITE) (Italian) DESIGNER, GIORGIO ARMANI, ON DESIGNING ITALY'S OLYMPIC OUTFITS, SAYING:

"The fact that I have been chosen (to design these outfits) is a recognition to the value of what I do. Fashion represents a great Italian flag for the whole world and it is a beautiful idea to combine it with sports. Let's hope sports will be as glorious."

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - FEBRUARY 23, 2019) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

32. VARIOUS OF GIORGIO ARMANI WALKING OUT ON CATWALK WITH MODEL, GREETING AUDIENCE

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - FEBRUARY 21, 2020) (REUTERS - Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

33. ROLLING TEXT ON SCREENS ABOVE CATWALK READING (English) "I'M SAYING YES TO RECYCLING" / LIGHTS COMING ON AND MODELS ON CATWALK FOR EMPORIO ARMANI FALL/WINTER 2020 COLLECTION

34. VARIOUS OF MODELS WEARING WHITE JACKETS AND BLACK BOWLER HATS WITH LETTERS "R-EA", FROM RECYCLED MATERIALS

35. TWO MODELS IN GREEN AND BLUE VELVET LOOSE FIT TOPS AND TROUSERS

36. TWO MODELS WEARING FURRY TOPS, BLACK SHORTS WITH LACED HEMS AND BERETS

37. GIORGIO ARMANI GREETING AUDIENCE AT THE END OF SHOW

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 23, 2021) (EMPORIO ARMANI HANDOUT - No resales. Music not cleared for use. Please check with the applicable collecting society or relevant rights holders in your territory regarding clearance of any sound recordings)

38. VARIOUS OF MODELS PRESENTING CREATIONS FROM THE EMPORIO ARMANI SPRING/SUMMER 2022 COLLECTION DURING MILAN FASHION WEEK

39. VARIOUS OF (L-R) GIORGIO ARMANI, HIS NIECE AND HEAD OF WOMEN'S STYLE OFFICE FOR BRAND, SILVANA ARMANI, AND CO-FOUNDER OF BRAND, SERGIO GALEOTTI ON RUNWAY AT THE END OF THE SHOW

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 23, 2021) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

40. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GIORGIO ARMANI WITH SILVANA ARMANI, SERGIO GALEOTTI AND MODELS PRESENTING THE EMPORIO ARMANI SPRING/SUMMER 2022 COLLECTION

HAMBURG, GERMANY (FILE - FEBRUARY 18, 1997) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

41. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GIORGIO ARMANI GESTURING AT END OF SHOW IN HAMBURG

KARLSRUHE, GERMANY (FILE - NOVEMBER 7, 1998) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

42. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GIORGIO ARMANI BEING CONGRATULATED BY ITALIAN ACTOR, CLAUDIA CARDINALE AFTER HE RECEIVED THE BAMBI 1998 MEDIA AWARD FOR HIS OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE IN FASHION DESIGN

NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - FEBRUARY 4, 1993) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

43. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GIORGIO ARMANI POSING WITH ACTOR AND SINGER, CHER BEFORE A FASHION SHOW AND DINNER

44. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI POSING WITH DIRECTOR, MARTIN SCORSESE

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - OCTOBER 4, 2000) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

45. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI WITH ACTOR, ROBERT DE NIRO AT THE INAUGURATION OF A NEW ARMANI SUPERSTORE IN MILAN

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - OCTOBER 6, 1996) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

46. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI GREETING GUITARIST, ERIC CLAPTON AFTER SHOW

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - OCTOBER 15, 2003) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

47. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI POSING WITH SINGER, BEYONCE AS THEY ARRIVE AT THE FASHION ROCKS CONCERT AND FASHION SHOW IN AID OF THE PRINCE'S TRUST AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - JANUARY 18, 2009) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

48. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI WITH BRITISH SOCCER PLAYER, DAVID BECKHAM

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - JANUARY 15, 2008) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

49. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ADVERTISING CAMPAIGN IN DOWNTOWN MILAN FOR ARMANI UNDERWEAR FEATURING BECKHAM AND HIS WIFE, SINGER AND NOW FASHION DESIGNER, VICTORIA BECKHAM

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - FEBRUARY 20, 2008) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

50. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI WITH U.S.VOGUE EDITOR, ANNA WINTOUR AT THE "SUPERHEROES: FASHION AND FANTASY" PRESENTATION

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - NOVEMBER 12, 1998) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

51. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI WAVING AS HE POSES WITH FRENCH FASHION DESIGNER, JEAN PAUL GAULTIER AT THE MTV AWARDS

LONDON, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM (FILE - OCTOBER 14, 2003) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

52. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF ARMANI POSING AT HIS RETROSPECTIVE EXHIBITION AT THE ROYAL ACADEMY IN LONDON

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 22, 2022) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

53. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GIORGIO ARMANI WITH MODELS DURING HIS SPRING/SUMMER 2023 SHOW

MILAN, ITALY (FILE - SEPTEMBER 25, 2021) (REUTERS - Access all) (MUTE)

54. STILL PHOTOGRAPH OF GIORGIO ARMANI WITH MODELS DURING HIS SPRING/SUMMER 2022 SHOW