Armani, Milan's compound mourning. Today and tomorrow the funeral chamber

In Via Borgonuovo, the tricolour flags that usually fly at the first floor of the seventeenth-century Palazzo Orsini, the headquarters of Giorgio Armani at number 11, and further on, at number 21, the address of the private residence of the fashion designer and entrepreneur, are wrapped around the flagpole, tightened by a black ribbon as a sign of mourning. Opposite the gate, on the other side of the street almost deferentially, stand a handful of people including journalists and onlookers: some stop, take a photo, and then continue on, in silence. Not far away, on Via Manzoni, the shop and restaurant are open as usual: some tourists sit at the Emporio Armani Café, others enter and leave the boutique.

Giorgio Armani chose Milan as his place of choice: he had lived there since his late childhood (he moved there with his parents from Piacenza, after the Second World War) and created his fashion company there in 1975, which grew to become a 2.3 billion revenue colossus. And the city has joined in the condolences for the death of the fashion designer and entrepreneur, who passed away on Thursday 4 September at the age of 91: sadness is widespread, but the adherence to mourning is sober and composed, and the 'tran tran tran' does not stop. In the Milanese way, and, in many ways, in line with the style of Armani, who until the very end continued to work supervising the clothes for the fashion show celebrating the company's first 50 years, scheduled to take place in Brera on 28 September during Milan Fashion Week. The 'King Giorgio' shows have always been one of the highlights of the event: a few years ago, the designer had made himself available to have his events included in the end of the calendar. It would have curbed the flight of many insiders to Paris.

The other place dear to Armani, who helped make it a fashion and design hub in the city, is Via Bergognone, home to the company's headquarters, the Armani/Teatro where the designer presented his collections (and which for years he offered as a stage to talented young people, with a pioneering form of patronage) and the Armani/Silos (see article left). It is precisely at the Armani/Teatro - in front of which some people have laid some bouquets of flowers and cards - that the funeral chamber will be open today and tomorrow, from 9.00 am to 6.00 pm, to allow employees, friends, acquaintances and simple admirers (although it is forbidden to take photos or videos) to pay their last respects to the designer and entrepreneur, whose funeral is scheduled for Monday 8 September, also in Milan.

The funeral will be held in the afternoon in a private form, as announced in a note from the company, which has planned to close the Milan office and shops and restaurants in Europe for those hours, but the city will still be in attendance: Milan Mayor Beppe Sala has proclaimed city mourning. 'Milan will miss his creative outlook, his active participation and his support for the life of our city,' Sala said, remembering him. Katia Tarasconi, mayor of Piacenza, also proclaimed national mourning for the same day.

On the day of Armani's death, mourning arrived, loudly, from everywhere: politicians, entrepreneurs, creative people, Hollywood actors and sports champions shared their memories of Giorgio Armani and expressed emotion at his passing. And the condolences did not stop: 'Like all Italians, I have always admired the design of his life, his way of living, his way of running his company,' said Gian Maria Gros-Pietro, chairman of Intesa Sanpaolo. Emma Marcegaglia called him 'a world-class talent' and a man who 'always had Italy and Italians at heart'. Italia Viva leader Matteo Renzi recalled when, as premier, he had asked him 'to represent Italy with us at the State Dinner at the White House hosted by President Obama, almost ten years ago. People like Armani prove that Made in Italy is also and above all work, commitment, passion. Creativity and imagination are not enough: you need tenacity, hard work, perseverance to give them legs".