Giorgio Armani SpA: A Legacy of Luxury and Strategic Growth Founded in 1975 by Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti, Giorgio Armani SpA initially leveraged licensing agreements with GFT and Simint to expand its reach. The company strategically consolidated its manufacturing in the 1990s, acquiring Antinea, Simint, and Intai to enhance quality control and distribution. Further vertical integration involved a joint venture with Zegna for men's collections and increased stake in its Japanese venture with Itochu. The brand's expansion included the development of five megastores designed by renowned architects, located in Milan, Hong Kong, Munich, Tokyo, and New York City. A joint venture with I Guardi in 2002 further solidified its control over the manufacturing process. Diversification efforts saw a collaboration with Samsung on high-end electronics starting in 2007. While a potential merger with Beiersdorf was considered in 2005, Armani instead focused on internal growth and succession planning, establishing the Giorgio Armani Foundation in 2016 to manage future governance and ownership. Despite considering a stock market listing, Armani rejected overtures from LVMH, Kering, and Stellantis in 2021, prioritizing independent operations. The brand's swift response to the COVID-19 pandemic involved halting public runway shows and repurposing its Italian factories to produce medical overalls. An investment in The Italian Sea Group's IPO followed in 2021. However, Armani's continued operations in Russia despite the ongoing conflict in Ukraine have drawn criticism, raising questions about corporate social responsibility.