SimplyAbuDhabi XXXVII

My happy place, where I feel best, is my office.” It’s not wholly exaggerating to compare securing an audience withGiorgioArmani (or Mr Armani as he is known to his inner circle) to arranging a casual cuppa with the Queen, as he rarely talks to journalists. The king of Italian fashion, solo owner of GiorgioArmani SpA, who Forbes estimates to have a personal fortune of £8.26bn, relies on his translator, right-hand woman and all-round head honcho, Anoushka Borghesi, to help conduct his rare interviews. With few personal effects, his home feels a lot like a luxury hotel – of which Mr Armani owns two. It smells utterly divine and the sofas are plumped to perfection. Housemen regularly appear from hidden corners. For a man who trades in understated, elegant clothing, he owns a surprisingly huge flat-screen television. There are animal figurines on some surfaces, from panthers to reptiles – perhaps unsurprising, given his second home, an hour from Milan, has a zoo. Outside, there’s a parked Bentley, doormen and 24/7 surveillance. Across the road are the Armani offices, and nearby, his hotel, the EmporioArmani cafe and the Via Manzoni concept store. Even the hangar at Milan Linate airport bears a giant Armani logo. Make no mistake, Mr Armani wields the power in Milan. According to one Italian editor, a rare glimpse of the designer in the wild provokes applause from locals. Despite only starting his label at the age of 40, he has more influence in Milan than any politician or football star (incidentally, he also designed the Italian national team’s off-pitch uniforms). A self-made man and a household name, “King Giorgio” is the local hero. 080 | SIMPLY INFLUENTIAL “ SIMPLY INFLUENTIAL | 081 Now in his mid-eighties, Mr Armani still epitomises the three Ts – trim, tanned and toned. Despite a severe case of hepatitis in 2009, he remains in good shape, with a permanent sun-kissed glow (his eye-watering property portfolio includes houses in St Moritz, the Sicilian island of Pantelleria and Antigua – where he will spend Christmas – plus a yacht) and a shock of white hair. He works out regularly and fastidiously follows a strict, chef- prepared diet, which he likes to consume alone. Despite his somewhat diminutive stature, it’s clear Mr Armani is the alpha male in any room. There are few designers who are as entwined with their brands as he is, meaning he can run his independent business as he wishes. With no shareholders to answer to, earlier this year he added the title of general manager to his existing chairman and chief executive officer roles. His dedicated team, which grows in number by the minute, spring into action to all of his requests, as he still commands Armani HQ with the intensity of a much younger man. Mr Armani loves to work and insists it keeps him healthy. “My happy place, where I feel best, is my office. It’s where I achieve my visions, where what’s in my head becomes real and tangible,” he says. “It’s the most incredible feeling. It fills me with energy and adrenaline every single time.”