The Emporio Armani line has a new creative director — Italian designer Dario Vitale, who previously led the fashion house Versace and spent 14 years at Miu Miu. According to a brand statement published on Instagram, Vitale will also oversee the creative direction of Giorgio Armani Accessories. In doing so, the designer has become the first person from outside the company to head one of Armani's lines in the group's history.
Who Is Dario Vitale
Dario Vitale was born in 1983 in Italy and studied design at Milan's Istituto Marangoni. Before joining Miu Miu, he worked at Dsquared2 and Bottega Veneta, where he shaped his professional profile. In 2010, the designer joined the Miu Miu team, where over the following 14 years he rose to director of women's ready-to-wear design and head of the brand's image — positions that made him one of the prominent figures in Italian fashion.
A Brief Stint at Versace
In April 2025, Vitale moved to Versace, becoming the first designer from outside the Versace family to lead the fashion house's creative direction. His tenure in the role was short: during that time he presented only one collection — Spring/Summer 2026 — and left the position at the end of 2025. It was precisely this brief but high-profile episode that preceded his new appointment at Armani.
The New Role and Continuity Within the Group
Before Vitale's appointment, the creative development of Armani's lines was handled by the founder's niece, Silvana Armani, and the brand's long-time partner, Leo Dell'Orco. According to a source, they continue to oversee the women's and men's directions of the main Giorgio Armani line, while Vitale takes on Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani Accessories. The Emporio Armani line was founded in 1981 as a younger, more accessible branch of the brand, oriented toward urban style and a broad audience, and subsequently became one of the key directions of the Armani Group.
Reactions and Plans for the Debut
"I am honored to take on this dual role at Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani, and I am deeply grateful to Silvana and Leo for welcoming me into their world," Vitale commented on the appointment, adding that he approaches the brand's legacy "with a deep sense of responsibility and passion." Silvana Armani and Leo Dell'Orco, for their part, congratulated their new colleague, noting that the brand has been "a space of freedom, experimentation, and energy" from the very beginning, and that Vitale's international experience will help continue this concept. The designer's debut collection for Emporio Armani will be presented in early 2027 for the Fall/Winter 2027/28 season.
