Giorgio Armani, commonly known as Armani, is a world-famous Italian luxury brand that specialises in clothing. It holds a prestigious title in the fashion industry. It was founded in 1975 by an Italian fashion designer known as Giorgio Armani.
In the year 2001, Armani had taken a spot in the limelight of the fashion industry and Giorgio was celebrated as the number one fashion designer of the world. Armani is especially known for his designer suits and red carpet gowns. They also make watches, glasses, jewellery, leather products and other accessories.
The difference between Armani and Armani Exchange is that while Armani is the main brand of luxury clothing, Armani Exchange is a sub-brand under Armani that specialises in more accessible clothing.
Armani doesn’t just have Armani Exchange as a sub-brand but also has several other sub-brands like Armani Private, Armani Collezioni, Emporium Armani and Armani Jeans. These are just their fashion sub-brands but Armani also owns a chain of hotels, resorts, a florist and a confectionery.
Comparison Table Between Armani and Armani Exchange
| Parameters of Comparison | Armani | Armani Exchange |
| Brand | The main brand founded by Giorgio Armani. | A sub-brand under the Armani umbrella. |
| Target Audience | It targets people of different age groups who can afford luxury products. | It targets a younger audience that cannot afford the high-end products but love fashion. |
| Fashion Style | Armani makes various styles of clothing from red carpet gowns and stylish suits to street fashion wear. | Armani Exchange specializes in casual and trendy clothes that can be worn regularly. |
| Price | Armani is usually very expensive and cannot be afforded by many. | Armani Exchange is made for everyone and tends to be less expensive. |
| Year of Foundation | Armani was founded in the year 1975. | Armani Exchange was founded in the year 1991. |
What is Armani?
Armani is an Italian luxury clothing brand. It was founded by Giorgio Armani, a fashion designer. Since it was founded in 1975, it has grown drastically. It has expanded and continues to do so.
Alongside clothing, Armani also makes leather products, jewellery, accessories, eyewear and home decor. Armani hasn’t limited itself to just manufacturing and retailing its clothing line but has also started Armani Hotels in 2005. They own at least seven luxury hotels and three vacation resorts.
Armani also dabbles in floral arrangements and has a florist label called Armani/Fiori under its name. A confectionery under the name Armani/Dolci was also founded in 2002. Their image of luxury products was not tainted in these lines too.
Since it has been in existence, Armani has kept expanding it’s brands and adding new businesses under its umbrella. They have maintained their prestige in the market.
What is Armani Exchange?
Armani Exchange is a sub-brand in the Armani group. It was first started in the U.S., unlike Armani’s other labels that were started in Italy. Armani Exchange was designed by keeping in mind that the world was it’s the audience.
It was inspired by street-chic fashion and new trends. While the other sub-brands of Armani are more high-end, Armani Exchange is made for everyone.
Armani Exchange was founded much later than Armani’s other prestigious sub-brands as they wanted to be known for their quality and luxury products. But it was high time to expand the business and Armani Exchange started contributing to their business quite a bit.
While Armani was only worn by celebrities and rich people for a while, Armani Exchange removed the restrictions and designer fashion was made available to everyone.
Main Differences Between Armani and Armani Exchange
- Armani is the main brand, while Armani Exchange is a part of the Armani brand.
- Armani was started in the year 1975, while Armani Exchange was started in 1991.
- Armani made clothes for celebrities and rich people who wanted luxury, while Armani Exchange was made for people who wanted fashionable and chic clothes for everyday use.
- Armani is usually worn by older and wealthy people. Armani Exchange is made keeping in mind a younger audience who cannot afford the luxury.
- Clothes and accessories made by Armani are more expensive than the ones made by Armani Exchange.
- Armani was founded in Italy and Armani Exchange was started in the United States.
Conclusion
Armani is a brand that has stood in the market for a long time and is still considered one of the best. Quality has been one of their principles from the start and they have always maintained their standards. Celebrities like Megan Fox, Rihanna, Cristiano Ronaldo and David Beckham have worn Armani to red carpet events. Armani Exchange, however, is more preferred by teenagers and other street fashion lovers.
Since Armani started in Italy, it has now spread all around the world with outlets in all the major cities of countries. Aside from their brand outlets, they also sell their products online on Armani and Armani Exchange websites. They are known for providing nothing but the best to their customers.
Exquisite clothes require the best fabrics and clever craftsmanship, which are both taken into consideration while making Armani’s fashion line. Although there are differences in the price points of different products, Armani does not compromise in the quality of products.
Both Armani and Armani Exchange are founded by Giorgio Armani, and they both contain items designed by different designers. While Armani started as a luxury brand, it has expanded to several sub-brands, some of them which are more affordable than the others.
