In an ode to Italian fashion, tribute must be, and likely always will be, paid to Giorgio Armani.
Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion screens as part of the 2026 ST. ALi Italian Film Festival more information about the festival is available here:
The ST. ALi Italian Film Festival is coming soon to cinemas!
Read the Glam Adelaide story about the festival here: The ST. ALi Italian Film Festival – Glam Adelaide
‘Having everyone against me has always been my motto,’ says Giorgio Armani, in John Maggio’s documentary Armani and the Birth of Italian Fashion. It’s a motto, it would seem, that didn’t stick.
Armani is known around the world as the King of Italian Fashion, having made a splash in women’s clothing in Milan in the seventies, then catapulting to international fame with his brand of men’s casual suit jackets in the eighties, a style that has Richard Gere’s Julian Kay from American Gigolo to thank. The title of the documentary suggests that the film will be about Armani, and given it was first released in Spain exactly a year after Armani’s death at the age of ninety-one, and that Armani’s interview in the film was his last on screen, one would think this is, indeed, a documentary about him. But it’s almost as much about Gianni Versace, about Maurizio Gucci, about those they’ve passed the baton onto, like Prada and Dolce and Gabbana, and about the city of Milan.
Though structurally Armani isn’t exactly central to the film, there’s a subtle feeling that he is, a kind of vibe, if you will, which perhaps mirrors the entire Italian fashion industry from the seventies to the present day. Armani was always there, designing and show-stopping the catwalk and running his company until he died. But he was not the only star of the industry and he’s not the only star of the documentary. This ambiguity over whether or not the film is about Armani is a little disarming, a what-is-it-exactly-that-we’re-watching kind of thing. What we’re watching is a slew of Hollywood actors, like Sharon Stone, Lauren Hutton, Helen Mirren, Frances McDormand and Samuel L. Jackson, talk about their respect for fashion and their favourite designers, and we’re watching industry bigwigs like Tom Ford, Domenico de Sole, Santo Versace, Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana talk about their roles in and interpretations of the fashion industry at the time. Essentially we’re talking about Italian fashion, so perhaps the inclusion of Armani’s name in the title is one of remembrance and reverence.
Despite this confusing architecture of the film – which is actually and quite simply chronological – it’s not worth letting it get in the way. It’s so much better to give yourself over to rolling along with absolute delight. Fashion is fun for many people, and it’s likely that no one who can take it or leave it will care to watch this documentary. This makes it a no-brainer to point out that if you’re buying a ticket to this film or streaming it online, you’re going to be entertained.
Reviewed by Heather Taylor-Johnson
Rating 4.5 out of 5
Distributor: PalaceFilms
