Giorgio Armani presented his first haute couture collection in 2005.
The collection was Giorgio Armani Privé, Armani's haute couture line, and it debuted in Paris in January 2005. This marked his formal entry into the highly regulated and prestigious world of Parisian haute couture, distinct from his established ready-to-wear collections.
Armani had already become internationally influential through his menswear, womenswear, accessories, fragrances, and film work. The couture launch extended that design language into one-of-a-kind and highly labor-intensive garments intended for exceptional presentation and private clients.
The date is sometimes confused with other major Armani milestones. Giorgio Armani S.p.A. was founded in Milan in 1975, while the designer's Hollywood breakthrough through American Gigolo came in 1980. The year 2005 specifically refers to the launch of Giorgio Armani Privé, not the beginning of the Armani company or the designer's ready-to-wear career.