Issue link: https://www.balharbourdigital.com/i/175740
La Famiglia Roberta Armani is defining the next generation of Italian style. BY RACHEL FELDER PORTRAIT BY GIOVANNI GASTEL Since the 1970s, the name Armani has been synonymous with sleek and sophisticated fashion—the type of timeless, quietly chic pieces that look stylish and appropriate for just about any occasion. These days, the brand includes an executive who perfectly embodies that sensibility: Roberta Armani, a niece of the company's founder Giorgio, who oversees the brand globally, including the vital job of celebrity relations. In a sense, Roberta Armani is the personification of many of the brand's most loyal customers: working women who are busy, social, fashionable and juggle plenty of responsibilities, often on the road. Her integral role at Armani means that she has a hand in, amongst other things, global strategy, 76 BAL HARBOUR photo shoots, events, openings and working with the brand's many celebrity fans. "As for a typical day, that doesn't really exist," she says. "I do travel a lot throughout the year, but it is something I don't take for granted, as other cultures, languages, people and points of view are one of the most rewarding things in life. They make us better people." Roberta Armani joined the family company when she was just 17, taking on a job that was decidedly unglamorous: working on the sales floor at the Emporio Armani store in New York. "I came to learn the business from up-close, especially from the retail and customer side, which is a core aspect of how to improve yourself and your products," she recalls.