Dario Vitale Named Creative Director of Emporio Armani

Armani is entering a new chapter in its creative leadership.

The Armani Group has appointed Dario Vitale as Creative Director of Emporio Armani, effective immediately. In addition to leading the creative direction of Emporio Armani, Vitale will serve as Creative Director of Accessories for Giorgio Armani.

The appointment represents a significant moment for the Italian fashion house following the death of founder Giorgio Armani in September 2025. Vitale becomes the first designer from outside the Armani family to assume creative leadership of one of the group’s major lines.

Summary

From Miu Miu to Versace, and Now Armani

Born in 1983, Vitale began his career with experience at Dsquared2 and Bottega Veneta before joining the Prada Group in 2010. He went on to spend nearly 15 years at Miu Miu, eventually serving as Design Director of Ready-to-Wear and overseeing the brand’s image.

His tenure coincided with a period of significant momentum for Miu Miu, as the label developed an increasingly distinctive position within contemporary fashion.

In 2025, Vitale was appointed to lead the creative direction of Versace, becoming the first designer from outside the Versace family to hold the role. He presented his Spring/Summer 2026 collection during Milan Fashion Week in September 2025 before departing the house later that year, following Prada Group’s acquisition of Versace.

His next chapter now begins at Armani.

Building a New Chapter

In announcing his appointment, Vitale expressed his gratitude for the opportunity to take on responsibilities across Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani Accessories, while acknowledging Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco.

He also reflected on the legacy and distinctive design language Giorgio Armani established over several decades, describing the opportunity to build upon that foundation as one carrying both significant responsibility and excitement.

Silvana Armani, who oversees womenswear style at the group, and Leo Dell’Orco, who oversees menswear, meanwhile emphasized the particular place Emporio Armani holds within the wider Armani universe.

They described the label as having been conceived as a space for freedom, experimentation and energy, while expressing confidence in Vitale’s ability to interpret that identity with respect and authenticity as it moves into its next phase.

Emporio Armani Enters Its Next Phase

Founded by Giorgio Armani in 1981, Emporio Armani was conceived as a more accessible and versatile expression of the designer’s approach to elegance.

According to the house, the label has developed around a metropolitan and dynamic interpretation of style, combining the foundations of Armani tailoring with a greater sense of experimentation and adaptability to contemporary life.

The appointment of Vitale now introduces an outside creative perspective into that established vocabulary.

Giuseppe Marsocci, CEO and Managing Director of the Armani Group, described the appointment as an important milestone for the company as it strengthens its creative organization and looks toward the future while remaining aligned with the values and vision established by Giorgio Armani.

Marsocci also highlighted Emporio Armani’s strategic importance to the group’s international partners, alongside what the company sees as significant growth potential within the Giorgio Armani accessories business.

Vitale’s dual responsibilities therefore extend beyond a single collection or category. His appointment places him across two strategically important areas of the Armani portfolio at a moment when the company is defining how its founder’s legacy will evolve under a new generation of creative leadership.

Spring/Summer 2027 to Be Presented on September 24

Vitale’s appointment does not mean his creative vision will immediately appear on the Milan Fashion Week calendar.

The Emporio Armani Spring/Summer 2027 men’s and women’s collection scheduled to be unveiled on September 24 was designed by Silvana Armani and Leo Dell’Orco. Rather than a traditional runway show, the collection is set to be presented in a presentation format.

Vitale’s arrival therefore signals the beginning of a longer creative transition rather than an immediate reset.

For a house whose visual language was shaped by its founder for nearly half a century, the question now extends beyond preserving an established aesthetic. It is also about how that language can continue to evolve for a new generation while retaining the principles that made Armani distinctive.

With Vitale joining its creative leadership, Emporio Armani is beginning to address that question from a new perspective.

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