Dario Vitale Named Emporio Armani Creative Director
Dario Vitale Named Emporio Armani Creative Director
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Key Points
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Armani CEO and managing director Giuseppe Marsocci called Emporio Armani “a brand of strategic relevance” and said Giorgio Armani accessories represented “a great opportunity” for the group.
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Under Vitale’s tenure at Miu Miu, the brand’s sales rose 93 percent by the end of 2024, making it responsible for about one-quarter of Prada Group’s business, according to The Cut.
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Vitale’s background also includes early roles at Dsquared2 and Bottega Veneta; he graduated from Milan’s Istituto Marangoni in 2006 before joining Miu Miu in 2010.
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Emporio Armani was created in 1981 as a lower-priced diffusion line initially focused heavily on denim and intended to introduce consumers to Giorgio Armani’s mainline. Armani described it as his vision of fashion from “another angle,” one that was “more metropolitan and extremely transversal in terms of generation.”
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Vitale said he approached the appointment with “a deep sense of responsibility and excitement,” adding that he hoped to build on Armani’s heritage while “defining a new era together” with Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco.
Dario Vitale has been appointed creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani Accessories, making him the first person outside the Armani family to hold these roles. The 43-year-old Italian designer takes the helm immediately, succeeding family members Silvana Armani and Leo Dell'Orco, Esquire Australia reported. The move comes roughly a year after founder Giorgio Armani's death in September 2025 at age 91.
Vitale brings 14 years of experience from Miu Miu, where he boosted sales by 93 percent by 2024. He briefly served as Versace's first non-family creative director in 2025 before The Cut reported the Prada Group acquired Versace and reorganized leadership. His appointment signals the Armani family's opening of creative control as the company explores its future, including potential ownership changes.
From Miu Miu Success to Armani Leadership
Vitale spent 14 years transforming Miu Miu into a powerhouse brand. Under his creative direction, Miu Miu's sales jumped 93 percent by the end of 2024, making it responsible for roughly one-quarter of the entire Prada Group's business, The Cut noted. He also held early design roles at Dsquared2 and Bottega Veneta before joining Miu Miu in 2010, following his 2006 graduation from Milan's Istituto Marangoni.
Breaking the Family Tradition at Emporio Armani
For decades, Emporio Armani design leadership stayed within the Armani family. Silvana Armani and Leo Dell'Orco will continue overseeing the group's broader women's and men's design operations, but Vitale now leads the specific brands. This marks a significant shift for the family-owned company as it navigates life after Giorgio Armani's passing and considers structural changes to the business.
Vitale expressed confidence in the role, saying he approached the appointment with "a deep sense of responsibility and excitement." He pledged to build on Armani's heritage while "defining a new era together" with Silvana Armani and Leo Dell'Orco. CEO Giuseppe Marsocci called Emporio Armani "a brand of strategic relevance" and Giorgio Armani accessories "a great opportunity" for growth.
What Emporio Armani Means to the Fashion House
Founded in 1981, Emporio Armani was created as a lower-priced diffusion line to introduce consumers to Giorgio Armani's vision. The brand launched with heavy focus on denim and a distinctly urban aesthetic. Giorgio Armani described it as fashion from "another angle"—one that was "more metropolitan and extremely transversal in terms of generation," reaching younger, style-conscious customers who couldn't access the mainline.
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