Arezzo, October 19, 2026—Beppe Angiolini died on October 17, 2026, at age 73, after a long illness. His family announced his death, leaving the Italian and international fashion worlds in mourning.
Known as “Sugar of Arezzo,” he began his career in 1978 by founding Sugar, the first of his boutique-galleries in Arezzo, which became a landmark admired around the world.
From the start, his company set out to offer a curated selection of international high-end brands, and it kept its headquarters in Arezzo as a testament to his Tuscan roots.
In the 1980s and 1990s, Sugar gradually established itself as a global benchmark in the industry, thanks to Angiolini’s vision, in which luxury, fashion, innovation, and the avant-garde coexisted. Sugar subsequently developed major partnerships with leading brands, solidifying its market position.
After launching an online platform in 2016 to complement the exclusive in-store experience, the brand transformed Palazzo Lambardi—the historic residence of the noble Arezzo family—into its new boutique in 2018. A skillful, sophisticated interplay of contrasts blends modernity with tradition: wooden ceilings, frescoes, a rooftop garden, a precious Vasari-style fireplace, and mosaic floors dating to the 1st century AD interact with contemporary design in marble, metal, LED screens, and artistic prints.
At the palazzo, he also launched hospitality ventures, including the “No Sugar Please” bar and the “Sugar Rooms” residence.
In 2021, Angiolini inaugurated Sugar’s new headquarters, HQ136, a modern, dynamic space that reflects his commitment to innovation and expansion.
Angiolini’s talent for discovering new designers and anticipating trends—even in unconventional, bold ways—transformed Arezzo, a small city in Tuscany, into an outpost of international fashion.
Designers, entrepreneurs, and industry insiders loved him, as the flood of messages and memories online shows. He served as president of Camera Buyer, bringing his sensitive, innovative eye to the “Made in Italy” creative and productive supply chains, and he stayed on as honorary president after his term ended.
With his passing, we lose a leading figure in the history of Italian fashion and a unique voice, one that will live on through what he built over more than 45 years of work. His multifaceted company will carry his legacy forward with the same passion and enthusiasm that made it one of the world’s best-known boutiques, and it will stay true to its original identity.
The funeral will take place today, Monday, October 19, at 3:30 p.m. in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Donatus, Piazza del Duomo 1, Arezzo.
Maria Cristina Pavarini