The Genius of Giorgio Armani

Long before I became a Hand Analyst and Life Purpose Guide, I worked in the fashion industry. So I was especially sad last week when I heard about the death of Giorgio Armani. Armani's fame was on the rise about the same time I was getting my feet wet in New York City's garment district. He was and still is considered one of a select group of designers who changed the way people dress.

His claim to fame? He deconstructed the suit, first for men, removing just enough of the inner structure to allow the fabric to relax and drape on the body. He went on to do the same for women, creating the power suit which to this day is the uniform for women in positions of authority.

Back in the day, his designs were seen as groundbreaking. Today they are considered classics.

Armani went on to apply his design genius to architecture, hotels, home furnishings, and even music compilations. Always under his personal supervision, he made sure anything bearing the Armani name reflected his brand and his voice.

The Mark of Genius

It wasn't until I saw the photographs accompanying reports of his death that I realized Armani has a Simian Crease in the palm of his hand. To me that explained a lot about not only his creativity, but also his focus and his firm hand in overseeing the empire that bears his name.

The Simian Crease is a single transverse (horizontal) palmar crease, as opposed to the Head and Heart Line seen in most people's palms. The Simian Crease is found most often in the hands of people who have genetic or medical abnormalities, including Down's Syndrome, fetal alcohol syndrome, Klinefelter Syndrome and others.

However, there are many people, statistically somewhere between 1.5 to 3% of the world's population, who have a single transverse crease with no associated medical issues. I've personally read for dozens and dozens of these folks, all healthy.

The Simian Crease is named for its resemblance to the single crease in the palms of monkeys and apes, though it does not indicate simian-like behaviors in the human who has one. Quite the opposite!

In the language of the hand the Simian Crease is viewed as a fusing of the Head Line with the Heart Line, and thus shows a person whose thinking function has merged with their emotional system.

It's an indicator of intense creative genius. The fusing of those two lines bestows a unique way of thinking. It's often the case that the owner of this line will tend to deal in extremes, either highs or lows. They can have a single minded focus allowing them to become a master of whatever they pursue.

Because of their inner intensity, owners of a Simian Crease often feel misunderstood. It may take some time to find their niche, and become confident in their ability to communicate their genius. Once they do, they have the potential to achieve greatness.

Armani has been described as intense and single-minded. Unwilling to cede control of his brand, he remained the sole shareholder of his company. According to a recent piece in the NY Times, he even created The Giorgio Armani Foundation to ensure that there would be no IPO or sale of his company for 5 years after his death.

Somehow I don't think he needed to worry about his legacy. The genius represented in his Simian Crease already took care of it.