Emporio Armani vs. Armani Exchange: What’s the Difference?

According to the world-class fashion designer and founder of the Armani fashion empire, Giorgio Armani, “Elegance is not catching somebody’s eyes; it’s staying in somebody’s memory.” And staying true to this quote, the Armani fashion empire has been defining and redefining elegance with its designs to make bold and evergreen fashion statements in the fashion world for many decades.

To ensure that fashion lovers of different age brackets remain elegant, the Armani fashion empire has launched different Armani sub-labels, such as Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange. These sub-labels have penetrated every nook and cranny of the fashion world with trendy designs for different groups of people. But are there differences between the two popular sub-labels of the Armani Empire, Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange? Let’s find out in this article. We will first consider the origin of both labels to see how they relate or differ.

Table of Contents:

Emporio Armani vs. Armani Exchange: How They Started

Indeed, the history of people and things has much to tell. This is why we need to look at the history of Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange to understand their different mission statements in the fashion world.

Let’s take a quick look at the comparison table below.

Parameters	Emporio Armani	Armani Exchange
Country of Origin	Italy	USA
Year of Establishment	1975	1991
Founder	Giorgio Armani	Giorgio Armani
Designer	Giorgio Armani designed most of the styles under this brand name.	Designed by other designers under the Armani fashion empire.
Brief History	In 1934, the fashion icon Gorgio Armani was born in Piacenza, Italy. He went through years of self-discovery as he ditched medical school after studying for three years and went to work in a department store. After seven years in the department store, he went on to give his flair for fashion full attention. He went for training in fashion design under Nino Cerruti. In 1975, he launched the Emporio Armani with Sergio Galeotti, his business partner, to present to fashion lovers ready-to-wear clothes for men and women. As the years rolled by, Giorgio Armani added many accessories, perfume, and sportswear to Emporio Armani’s unique collections, which led to its reputation as an international brand with lots of fashion items under its name in 1982.	It’s no secret that many fashion lovers found the Emporio Armani brand too expensive. Plus, it does not cater to younger generations, such as teenagers. So, in 1991, Giorgio Armani launched the Armani Exchange in America to reach the nooks and crannies of the fashion world that its previous sub-labels could not reach. It was first opened to create street and city styles with a touch of elegance and sophistication. To reach every young person who thinks Armani brands are classic and expensive. Initially, Giorgio Armani was just there in name, owning only 25% of Armani Exchange. The brand only used the luxurious Armani brand name to penetrate the market with affordable wear. But today, the remaining 75% belongs to him, making him the sole owner of Armani Exchange.
Main Features	Emporio Armani’s collection features timelessly elegant and sophisticated items. Ranging from clothing to accessories such as wristwatches. All its designs bear the brand’s unique logo, which has won the hearts of fashion lovers since its creation.	Armani Exchange features the harmony of sophisticated Italian designs and street-chic American designs. It has lots of items, such as trendy casual wear and accessories. If the free and sometimes provocative style of the modern generation appeals to you, then Armani Exchange is the design for you. All items under this brand bear the A\|X logo of Armani Exchange.
Fun Facts	The word ‘Emporio’ was coined from the word ‘emporium,’ which stands for a place where one can buy a variety of items because Giorgio Armani wanted the Emporio Armani brand to represent a place where you can buy all types of fashion items.	It’s called Armani Exchange because in every one of its designs, there is an interaction and exchange between Italian and American cultures.
Reputation	Emporio Armani has established its credibility in the fashion world as a luxurious and premium quality brand. As it places quality and elegance above cost. Today, the brand name ‘Emporio Armani’ has come to stand for exceptionality in timeless fashion designs.	Although, the brand has received less than 5-star ratings across many platforms on the internet. Armani Exchange remains a luxury brand with a high rate of affordability. In comparison with Emporio Armani, this brand is more liberal in design and less expensive. With Armani Exchange, it’s all about looking young, trendy, and street-chic.
Primary Focus	The brand’s timeless designs target fashionable young people between 20 to 30 years of age.	Armani Exchange focuses more on teenagers and young people up to age 35.

Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange have come a long way. Evolving through the years to remain timelessly relevant in the fashion world. But judging from their histories, the two brands are in the market to cater to two different groups of young people with unique differences in their fashion sense.

Even though they are both owned by Giorgio Armani, the two brands are not the same.

Is Emporio Armani Better than Armani Exchange in Price Range?

The difference in the prices of Emporio Armani items and Armani Exchange items are significant. The Armani brands have always maintained the reputation of being for only those who can afford a luxurious lifestyle. But Armani Exchange changed that narrative.

You do not have to empty your piggy bank just to wear an item from the famous Armani fashion empire, as Armani Exchange can be bought with reasonably low amounts from many shops online and offline. Emporio Armani, on the other hand, maintained Armani’s reputation of offering high-priced and quality items.

The price for Emporio Armani ranges from 50 Euros to 2,000 Euros. In comparison, the Armani Exchange ranges from 20 Euros to 450 Euros.

Emporio Armani vs. Armani Exchange: Which is of Better Quality?

Most of the items under Emporio Armani are ‘made in Italy.’ And in the fashion world, the term ‘made in Italy’ has come to mean ‘premium quality.’

Even though it uses materials that are a little inferior to those used by the main Giorgio Armani brand, it is still a high-quality brand that uses materials such as wool, viscose, polyester, and cotton for its clothes.

Armani Exchange uses high-quality cotton materials with no polyester added to its clothes. And its durability can be trusted as the stitches are tidy, strong, and even.

Although most Armani Exchange items are made in China, their qualities are not compromised. They still maintain the Armani fashion empire’s reputation for producing high-quality items.

Emporio Armani vs. Armani Exchange: Celebrity Support

Celebrities are known to endorse fashion brands of high standards. This is why Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange never lack celebrity support. They carry the iconic Armani name, making them popular among many celebrities.

From brand ambassadors to celebrities who cannot get enough of Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange. Here are some of the celebrities that have shown support for the two sub-labels of the Armani Fashion Empire:

Emporio Armani	Armani Exchange
English actor Nicholas Hoult	English actress Cara Delevingne
Footballer, Cristiano Ronaldo,	American singer and actress Ali Lohan
American actress Megan Fox	Chinese actor Li Yifeng
Italian actress Elisabeth Canalis	Dutch DJ, Martin Garrex
Italian actress Alice Pagani	Indian actor Kartik Aaryan
Tennis player Alexander Bublik	American actor Kellan Lutz
Taiwanese actress Shu Qi	American singer, Taylor Swift
Former footballer David Beckham	American actor Trevor Donovan
Singer and designer Victoria Beckham	Television personality Nick d’Anna
American actor Josh Hartnett	Canadian actress Nina Dobrev

With Alexander Bublik as EA7 Emporio Armani brand ambassador, Jackson Yee has been unveiled as the face of its fall-winter campaign for 2023. Kartik Aaryan is the current brand ambassador of Armani Exchange.

You will agree with us that both brands have gained considerable support from celebrities across the globe.

Emporio Armani vs. Armani Exchange: Social Media Influence

The influence of social media on the growth and popularity of any brand cannot be downplayed. Social media platforms are swimming with a large percentage of the world population, especially the younger generation, which Emporio Armani and Armani exchange target. Here is a summary of each brand’s social media influence.

Social Media	Emporio Armani’s Followers	Armani Exchange’s Followers
Facebook	8.7 Million	2.1 Million
Twitter	3.4 Million	77 Thousand
Instagram	20.1 Million	2.6 Million

Emporio Armani has been around for several decades and has gained more popularity on social media. But despite the almost two-decade gap between their launch dates, Armani Exchange is catching up pretty fast.

Based on their current numbers of followers, it is fair to say that Emporio Armani is more influential across the three most popular social media platforms. You can follow them on any of these platforms to get first-hand information on their latest collections and fashion shows.

Emporio Armani vs. Armani Exchange: Items Sold

These two sub-labels of the iconic Armani fashion brand offer a wide variety of fashion items. These are summarised in the table below.

Emporio Armani	Armani Exchange
Women’s Wear; Lambskin jackets Pencil skirts Blouses Palazzo trousers Knitted shirts Pleated skirt Sheath dresses Two-piece effect dresses Sweatshirts Double-breasted blazers Single-breasted jacket Wrap skirts Suits Hooded blouses Denim jeans Seersucker blouses Denim jackets Belted jackets V-neck dresses	Women’s Wear; Fedora hats Flower print scarf Sandals Shorts Crossbody bags Blouses and dresses Jersey Logo sneakers Pants Leather belts t-shirt dress cropped jersey logo bags fabric vests denim jeans baseball caps sportswear tops
Men’s Wear; Joggers Hooded blouson Sweatshirts Trousers Water repellent sweatshirt Briefs with mega logo Sneakers Polo Jersey Hooded sweatshirts Denim jeans Stretch shirts Jumpers Jackets Cardigans Boxer pyjamas Single breasted suits Pocket square T-shirt Shorts	Men’s Wear; Polo Pullovers Sweaters T-shirts High soled mesh sneakers Casual jackets Shorts Trousers Baseball caps Hoods Sweatpants Cardholders Denim jeans Leather sneakers Joggers Bucket hat Mesh sneakers Sandals Belts with logo buckles
Accessories for Men and Women ; Belts Cardholders Wallets Key ring holder Fringed scarf Stainless steel rings Baseball caps Silk ties Logo Washbag Hats Pendant necklaces Cuff link Silk pocket square Gloves Stainless steel watches Bracelets Beanie Foulards Gemstone necklaces Resin bangles Stoles Coin purse Pendant earrings Lacquer necklaces Perfumes Sunglasses Dog tag necklaces Two-toned shirts	Accessories for men and women; Chained and unchained wallets Logo cardholders Bags Toiletry case Badge holders Keyring holders Stainless steel necklaces and bracelets Brass beaded bracelet Logo scarf Baseball caps Sunglasses Crossbody wallets Watches

From the long list of items these two brands sell, we can say that Emporio Armani offers more stylish and classic items, while Armani Exchange offers more young-adults-inspired freestyles and trendy items.

Conclusion

After the extended comparison between Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange, the major differences we found between the two Armani sub-labels are their styles and prices. Emporio Armani offers more sophisticated, expensive, and formal wear, while Armani Exchange offers less costly, street-chic, and less formal wear.

There is also a significant difference in the age brackets of young people who love these brands. But, whatever taste you have in fashion as a young individual or an individual with a young mind. Emporio Armani and Armani Exchange have something for you.

What have been your experience with these brands? We are eager to hear from you in the comment section.