Giorgio Armani Revealed His Life’s ‘Only Regret’ in Last Interview Before His Death

Giorgio Armani‘s last interview included a profound revelation.

In an interview with Financial Times published on Friday, Aug. 29, just days before his death at 91, he reflected on his “only regret in life.”

“I don’t know if I’d use the word workaholic, but hard work is certainly essential to success,” he told the outlet. “My only regret in life was spending too many hours working and not enough time with friends and family.” 

The legendary fashion designer also opened up about his vision for the brand after his death.

“My plans for succession consist of a gradual transition of the responsibilities that I have always handled to those closest to me, such as Leo Dell’Orc [the head of men’s design for the Armani Group], the members of my family and the entire working team,” Armani said. “I would like the succession to be organic and not a moment of rupture.”

Armani opened up about the personal sacrifices he made in order to build his brand during a 2015 interview with GQ.

“But I understood, too, that success like this requires total commitment, if it is going to take on a life of its own,” he shared. “I’m disappointed that many times I had to give up relationships for work.”

On Thursday, Sept. 4, the fashion house announced that Armani “passed away peacefully, surrounded by his loved ones.” The statement added that the designer “worked until his final days, dedicating himself to the company, the collections, and the many ongoing and future projects.”

A statement from Armani’s employees and family reads: “In this company, we have always felt like part of a family. Today, with deep emotion, we feel the void left by the one who founded and nurtured this family with vision, passion, and dedication. But it is precisely in his spirit that we, the employees and the family members who have always worked alongside Mr. Armani, commit to protecting what he built and to carrying his company forward in his memory, with respect, responsibility, and love.”

The designer’s death comes after a period of missing key events for the fashion house. In June, he missed the menswear show during Milan Fashion Week for the first time in 50 years, per AP. However, per the outlet, the designer was watching the show’s live stream while he recovered from an “undisclosed condition.”

Armani, whose eponymous Italian fashion empire includes the couture line Armani Privé, ready-to-wear line Emporio Armani and street line Armani Exchange, was born on July 11, 1934, in Piacenza, Italy, to parents Maria Raimondi and Ugo Armani.

After studying medicine at the university level for three years, he left to serve his two required years of military service. He later got a job at a department store in Milan as a window dresser and eventually moved up to work as a buyer before venturing into design in the mid-’60s, working for designer Nino Cerruti.

Armani launched his own label in 1975 with his business and romantic partner Sergio Galeotti. The brand found major success right away and became known for creating looser, fuller menswear silhouettes.

The label skyrocketed in the 1980s thanks to major pop culture moments like Richard Gere’s Armani wardrobe in the 1980 film American Gigolo. The designer also began working with A-listers on the red carpet. Notable celebrity moments include Julia Roberts wearing a menswear-inspired suit to the 1990 Golden Globes, telling InStyle she picked it right off the rack. “I loved the shape of it,” she said. “For me, this was the epitome of being dressed up.”

Other celebrity fans include Rihanna, who has worn memorable Armani looks to the Grammy Awards, Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway and Lady Gaga.