The Armani group has appointed Dario Vitale creative director of Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani accessories, with immediate effect, according to a statement relayed by FashionUnited. Born in 1983, the designer becomes the first to hold this position without belonging to the Armani family.
According to Drapers, the announcement was made on 16 September. Giuseppe Marsocci, PDG and chief executive of the Armani group, described the appointment as an « étape importante pour le groupe Armani », stating that it « renforce notre organisation créative et confirme notre volonté de regarder vers l'avenir, tout en consolidant le parcours évolutif du groupe et en restant fidèle aux valeurs et à la vision de Giorgio Armani ». He added that « Emporio Armani est une marque d'importance stratégique pour nous et nos partenaires dans le monde entier » and that Giorgio Armani accessories « représentent une grande opportunité ».
For his part, Dario Vitale said he felt « honoré d'assumer ce double rôle entre Emporio Armani et Giorgio Armani », thanking Silvana Armani and Leo Dell'Orco for welcoming him. He spoke of an « extraordinaire » heritage and a « langage stylistique unique », saying he wants to build on these foundations to « définir ensemble une nouvelle ère ».
Silvana Armani, head of women's style, and Leo Dell'Orco, head of men's style for the group, welcomed the arrival of a talent already recognised on the international scene, recalling that « Emporio est né comme un espace de liberté, d'expérimentation et d'énergie ».
Having come through Miu Miu, which he joined in 2010 to work alongside Miuccia Prada, Dario Vitale left his position as head of ready-to-wear, in March 2025 according to FashionUnited, in January 2025 according to WWD, after fifteen years. He then took over as creative director of Versace, in April 2025 according to FashionUnited, in March 2025 according to WWD. He left the role last December, after a single collection, at the time when Prada Group was finalising the acquisition of Versace from Capri Holdings, for an enterprise value of 1.25 billion euros.
According to WWD, sources indicate that Giorgio Armani's heirs, including Leo Dell'Orco, had been considering bringing a young designer into the group since the couturier's death, and that Dario Vitale had been approached among other candidates without any agreement being signed until this confirmation. At the end of June, during Milan men's Fashion Week, Dell'Orco had nonetheless dismissed such speculation.
Roberto D'Incau, managing partner at Lang&Partners, described the move as « audacieux et stratégiquement significatif », highlighting the designer's ability to « travailler à travers des maisons et des codes esthétiques très différents ». His partner Francesco Palmieri called the appointment « particulièrement intéressante », pointing to a « identité créative forte » combined with great « polyvalence ».
The Emporio Armani spring collection, designed by Silvana Armani and Leo Dell'Orco, will be presented on 24 September at the Armani/Teatro, in the form of a presentation rather than a traditional runway show.
