One of the most common questions we are asked is ‘what is Armani Exchange?‘ Unfortunately, it’s not the simplest of questions to find an answer to. If you do a search online, you’re most likely going to end up being more confused due to Armani’s complex segmentation. So here we are going to finally clear up the age-old question, Armani vs Armani Exchange: What is the actual difference? Don’t forget to also check out our extensiveArmani Exchange: collection!
QUICK ACCESS GUIDE
- What is Armani?
- What is Armani Exchange?
- What is Emporio Armani?
- Giorgio Armani vs Armani Exchange
- Emporio Armani vs Armani Exchange
SO WHAT IS ARMANI?
Giorgio Armani created the prestigious Italian fashion house in 1975 and since then the company has created numerous lines to reach a wide range of people. To get the best understanding of what Armani is and howArmani Exchangeis different, you need to understand the breakdown of the brand.
Up until 2017, the Armani enterprise consisted of a vast number of sub-brands which included favourites like Armani Jeans, Armani Collezioni and Armani Privé. Due to mass confusion, it was decided to end a number of these labels and have them integrated within the three main Armani lines below:
Giorgio Armani:This label is Armani’s signature high-end brand which specialised in ready-to-wear men’s and women’s clothing. This line is of a higher price point and not easy to come across in a store. Giorgio Armani also creates a cosmetic and scent range. The original top-tier brand, Armani Privé was folded and now lies within the Giorgio Armani label. So if you hear that a celebrity is wearing a ‘custom’ Armanisuitordressat an event like the Oscar’s, they will be wearing custom Giorgio Armani.
Emporio Armani:Another ready-to-wear label but this one is aimed towards younger individuals. It’s had many celebrity endorsem*nts and is relatively easy to buy. This label also includes another sub-line,EA7and has encapsulated the Armani Jeans brand.
Armani Exchange:This label is Armani’s mass-market option for the fashion-conscious. It’s widely available and at a more obtainable price point. It also took over parts of both the Armani Jeans and Armani Collezioni labels.
WHAT IS ARMANI EXCHANGE?
Launched in 1991,Armani Exchangeis the most accessible and affordable line within the Armani family. The line is not directly designed by Giorgio Armani but targets more of the fast-fashion street style that a youthful audience is looking for. The creation ofArmani Exchangewas to pick up the American mass market that couldn’t access the top-tier of the Armani brand.
The demographic forArmani Exchangeis far younger than the Giorgio Armani customer. Due to the fun and vibrant designs,Armani Exchange‘s target customer falls between late teens up to mid-thirties.
Armani Exchangehas nailed essential items that have a more affordable price point so everyday people can access the Armani brand. It’s commonly found to be the entry brand for people first developing their style and getting into designer clothing.
The A|X branding has become iconic within the Armani family and is often featured on the garments, giving a clear slogan vibe to the pieces.
WHAT IS EMPORIO ARMANI?
Emporio Armani is one of the original sub-brands from Armani and sits in the middle tier of the Armani brands. The range includes clothing, sunglasses, scents and accessories which are all very accessible to buy. It’s known as a ‘bridge-line’ because it is slightly more premium thanArmani Exchangebut not as high-end as the signature Giorgio Armani label.
As previously mentioned, Emporio Armani took on parts of the Armani Jeans label back in 2017. This fusion was in part due to both labels sharing the same eagle logo and a similar demographic of 20-30-year-olds.
EA7however, was an original sub-brand of Emporio Armani and is still one of the most popular labels on the market.What is EA7?Well,EA7is a sports line that developed from Emporio Amani and Reebok back in 2012. It’s been designed with comfort and sports in mind and the range includes athletic clothing and sporting accessories. In today’s standing,EA7is a favourite for younger audiences who follow the athleisure trend.
The whole Emporio Armani label has been highly endorsed by celebrities as well as sports stars making it extremely popular and on-trend.
GIORGIO ARMANI VS ARMANI EXCHANGE
Even though both of these brands are part of the Armani fashion house, there are a lot of big differences. As Giorgio Armani is one of the original labels, it is also the most luxe and high quality. Look at the table below to see the outline of Giorgio Armani vsArmani Exchange.
| GIORGIO ARMANI | ARMANI EXCHANGE | |
| ORIGIN YEAR | 1975 | 1991 |
| TARGET | Wealthy entrepreneurs 35 – 50 years of age | Style conscience professionals: 15 – 35 years of age |
| PRICE | £300 – £10,000 | £20 – £450 |
| DESIGN | Sleek and minimal eveningwear and modernised 20th-century garments | Fun on-trend pieces that are inspired from street style |
| ACCESSIBILITY | Only available with specialised designer stores | Widely available (270 stores in 31 countries) |
EMPORIO ARMANI VS ARMANI EXCHANGE
Both of these labels are in the lower tier of the Armani pyramid in terms of price. They are also often confused with each other as they share the same initials so check out the outline of Emporio Armani vs Armani Exchange below:
| EMPORIO ARMANI | ARMANI EXCHANGE | |
| ORIGIN YEAR | 1982 | 1991 |
| TARGET | Young professional adults aged 20 to 30 years-old | Style conscience professionals: 15 – 35 years of age |
| PRICE | £50 – £2,000 | £20 – £450 |
| DESIGNER | Mainly designed specifically by Giorgio Armani and his direct team | Split between the Singapore design team and others in the company – not designed by Giogio Armani |
| SUB-BRANDS | EA7their athletic brand – also absorbed parts of folded Armani brands | None but absorbed parts of folded Armani labels |
