Hello and welcome to News Hour from the BBC World Service. We're coming to you live from London. I'm James Menendez.

And our top story today takes us unusually for this programme into the world of fashion and the death of one of its best known names, Georgia Omani. He died at the age of 91.

His multi-dollar business was truly a global brand, whether dressing the young and wealthy in China or inspiring street market fakes in South

America. Even though his famous suits were out of reach for most of us, his brand came to embody

Italian elegance, mixing formality with relaxed sensuality,

and in a bold move at the time, blurring the lines between femininity and masculinity.

Well, here's the man himself talking to the BBC for a documentary

about how in the early days he ripped the stiff padding out of jackets for women

to make them more comfortable.

I realized that a certain kind of woman was looking for a self-dressing that was more

meant-like. They liked deconstructed jackets, plain, soft and flowing, something they could

move in freely, like a second skin.

For many people, having something Armani is an aspiration.

For a young man or woman, owning an amani suit is a sign of success.

Well, the Armani Brown was given a huge boost by his association with Hollywood and the world of music,

dressing the stars so they'd look good on the red carpet,

and so his designs would be seen in newspapers and magazines all over the world.

Here are some of the celebrities who've worn Armani over the years.

The first time I wore Armani, I was maybe 16, and Destiny's Child,

so we thought we were just fabulous because we had on Armani and it's a girl's drink.

There's something for every occasion and he does what he wants. He doesn't follow trends.

He does whatever he's inspired to do and what he's feeling at that moment in time.

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