MILAN - Giorgio Armani accused the fashion
industry on Friday of "raping" women with short-lived trends and
sex-driven marketing.
"I think it's time for me to say what I think. Women keep
getting raped by designers," Armani, 85, told reporters on the
sidelines of a show for his Emporio Armani line at Milan Fashion
Week.
"If a lady walks on the street and sees an ad with a woman
with her boobs and arse in plain sight and she wants to be like
that too, that's a way of raping her," Armani said. "You can
rape a woman in many ways, either by throwing her in the
basement or by suggesting that she dresses in a certain way."
Armani, known for his sober, elegant outfits, founded his
label in 1975 and has built it into a global brand.
"In my show there are short skirts, long skirts, ample and
tight trousers. I have given maximum freedom to women who can
use all possibilities if they are sensible," he said.
"I'm sick of hearing the word 'trend'. We need to try to
work for today's woman. There shouldn't be trends," he said.
He said his Emporio Armani show, his younger line, was
inspired by "strong-willed" young women.
He will present the Fall/Winter 2020 collection for his main
Giorgio Armani line on Sunday.