L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JUNE 15, 2023 www.italoamericano.org 30 L'Italo-Americano LIFE PEOPLE MOVIES MUSIC BOOKS " I like to think that my personal experi- e n c e c a n b e a n example for anyone w h o w a n t s t o achieve their goals. Especial- ly for young people who, in such a complex historical moment, often struggle to find the right path. Today, great skills are required and reality is challenging and not always reassuring, but I feel compelled to say: never give up, study with dedication, work day after day following your instincts and passion." T h e s e a r e t h e w o r d s of Giorgio Armani, who was awarded an honorary degree in Global Business Management by the Univer- s i t à C a t t o l i c a d e l S a c r o Cuore, "for the international dimension of his brand, his holistic approach to sustain- ability, tireless pursuit of improvement, and awareness of the central role of business in creating shared value." A r m a n i r e c e i v e d t h e degree at the Teatro Comu- nale in Piacenza, where he was born on July 11, 1934. For him, who founded one of the most important fashion brands in the world in 1975, t h i s i s t h e f i f t h h o n o r a r y degree, after those received in 1991 from the Royal Col- l e g e o f A r t i n L o n d o n , i n 1993 from the Accademia di Belle Arti di Brera in Milan, in 2006 from the Central Saint Martins College of Art and Design in London, and in 2007 from the Politecnico di Milano. Armani empha- s i z e d h o w t h i s p a r t i c u l a r degree is "twice as special" because "it rewards my com- mitment, my passion and my role as an entrepreneur, but also because I am receiving it in my hometown, in a magi- c a l p l a c e I u s e d t o b e charmed by as a child." His speech to an audience of university students was a tribute to that magical place: "I left Piacenza to find my own path, which I found in Milan, but my roots have always remained here, where m y c h i l d h o o d m e m o r i e s come back to life: the bike rides along the Trebbia river and my mother, who used to take me from my room on the fifth floor to the cellar s h e l t e r d u r i n g t h e w a r . " Speaking to the audience, he r e c a l l e d " t h e c h a l l e n g i n g journey I have taken, often forgetting myself. So, I say to you, work hard, and perse- vere, but don't forget that you have your cat, your dog, your mother, your grand- m o t h e r , o r y o u r l o v e r a t home, because as you move forward, you will need people by your side." F r o m t h e s t a g e , h e recalled his life story. "As you k n o w , I f o u n d e d G i o r g i o Armani together with Sergio Galeotti, the first one to truly believe in my talent. With him, in the first ten years, we built the company's founda- tions: Sergio took care of the business while I focused on creativity. However, destiny put me to the test and, fol- lowing the loss of my part- ner, I had to take over the management of the company myself, along with the cre- ative side of it, if I wanted to s u r v i v e . M a n y t h o u g h t I wouldn't make it, but thanks to my determination, and the support of the people close to me, to whom I am indebted, I managed to move forward. It has been a long and at times complex journey, but I over- came difficulties with com- mitment, dedication, and rigor – values I inherited from my family, and that I always recommend following if you want to make your dreams come true, especially in a time where fleeting suc- c e s s i s c o m m o n . B e c a u s e what requires commitment, it's going to last. The world c h a n g e s , a n d w e m u s t embrace the positive side of progress. I always nurtured and protected my indepen- dence with courage, confi- dence, and pride. I listen to others' opinions, but I am the one making the decisions. I always weigh in risks and benefits with a great sense of responsibility. This is how I built a Group that became synonymous with quality, beauty, moderation, and har- mony worldwide, and that represents the aesthetics and industrial values that make Italy great. I started with clothes and, step by step, I ventured into other areas always with coherence and never impulsively." In his speech, the rector of t h e U n i v e r s i t à Cattolica Franco Anelli spoke about Armani as an e n t r e p r e n e u r , a c r e a t i v e mind, and an innovator, who pursued his unique vision with determination, perse- verance, and courage. These qualities were essential to developing a project that led to the establishment of one of the world's most important multinational groups. "We could draw a balance starting from the assumption, with all it implies, of the problematic dimension of time. Time, for Armani, is a choice related to both form and content: the classicism of lines and the quality of materials typical of his style tell us of a product designed to gracefully with- stand the lifespan of a collec- tion. But what's truly new in his proposal is the timeless, sensitive approach taken in interpreting the attitudes, roles, and functions of con- temporary men and women. 'Being yourself, but at your best.' In this sense, we can speak of Armani's classicism not as a petitio principii, but as the product of an aesthetic infused with dynamic ten- sions, akin to great classical sculpture. The result, born almost instinctively and then p u r s u e d c o h e r e n t l y , i s a mobile and open dialogue with humanity." Armani is the Chairman a n d C E O o f t h e A r m a n i Group, one of the world's leading fashion and luxury c o m p a n i e s , w i t h 8 , 3 0 4 employees and 9 production f a c i l i t i e s . T h e c o m p a n y designs, produces, distrib- utes, and sells fashion and lifestyle products, including clothing, accessories, eye- wear, watches, jewelry, cos- metics, fragrances, furniture, and home accessories. It also operates in the field of hospi- t a l i t y a n d h o t e l s . " T h e impulse to broaden the per- spective from the object to the context," the rector con- tinued, "has been at once the root and consequence of the brand's global expansion. A style-defining brand not only in fashion but, today, also in all the sectors of what we call 'lifestyle.' Here, the eclecti- c i s m o f e n t r e p r e n e u r i a l choices does not contradict b u t r a t h e r e n h a n c e s , t h e h u m a n i s t i c c o h e r e n c e o f inspiration. It all started with the deconstructed jacket, Armani's most iconic cre- ation: from there came pro- jects for houses, hotels, and entertainment venues— all while indulging in old per- sonal passions like cinema and sports — which widened the horizon of Armani's own interpretation of glamour. 'My eye is behind it, my taste is within it,' Giorgio says. The future is just around the cor- ner." In this sense, the rector looked mainly forward stat- ing that: "The degree being conferred today is not a ret- rospective celebration but a milestone on a creative jour- n e y f r o m w h i c h w e s t i l l expect much." Anna Maria Fellegara, Dean of the Faculty of Eco- nomics and Law, who read the motivations for the hon- orary degree, stated: "Since 1975 Armani has embraced the tradition of Italian crafts- manship, which is deeply r o o t e d i n o u r t e r r i t o r y , through the skills and work of weavers, tailors, and cos- tume makers, reinterpreting it and making it a universal iconic reference. His busi- n e s s g r o u p , w h i c h r a n k s among the best in the world, maintains a direct connec- tion with its founder and pre- serves its original matrix on a global scale. Amidst the con- tinuous renewal required by h o w f a s t c o n t e x t s c a n change, Giorgio Armani kept i t s o r i g i n a l i n t u i t i o n a n d brought the importance of t h e h u m a n f a c t o r t o t h e attention of a sector crucial to the economy of our coun- try: from promoting the fair treatment of those operating in the supply chain to social c o m m i t m e n t ; f r o m h i s engagement during the pan- d e m i c t o e n v i r o n m e n t a l responsibility. Challenging the established consumerist model with its frenetic pace and lack of care for quality and beauty is his most recent of his battles, which testifies to his choice for an economic dimension that values what endures over time, and the importance of working ethi- cally." Perhaps the teachings of G i o r g i o A r m a n i , w h o i s almost 89, can be summed up in one sentence: "Being yourself, but at your best." It's an invitation to pursue passion and rigor in work. In a heartfelt and emotional speech, he said: "I am a ratio- nal creator, but the drive always comes from passion, from intuition and a burning desire to bring it to life. Every idea, after all, comes from ' f a l l i n g i n l o v e , ' a n d t h i s work, which is my life, is a continuous act of love. I do recommend you nurture love for what you do, with respect for those around you. In this speech, I talked about myself, but mainly thought of you students. And I would like, through my story, to be an example, a stimulus, and to remind everyone that true work takes you far." BARBARA MINAFRA Giorgio Armani receives a fifth honorary degree in his beloved hometown, Piacenza Armani before an Emporio Armani fashion show (Photo: Andersastphoto/Dreamstime)

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