Until 2017, Giorgio Armani operated seven distinct fashion lines: Giorgio Armani Privé (haute couture), Giorgio Armani Black Label (luxury ready-to-wear), Armani Collezioni (diffusion line), Emporio Armani (contemporary luxury), Armani Jeans (denim-based casual wear), Armani Junior (childrenswear), and Armani Exchange (accessible luxury).
In 2017, Giorgio Armani executed a strategic consolidation to eliminate market confusion, creating three clear brand tiers:
- Giorgio Armani – The Black Label absorbed Armani Collezioni’s formal wear, maintaining the highest standards of luxury and craftsmanship.
- Emporio Armani – The contemporary line incorporated Armani Collezioni’s casual pieces and Armani Jeans, strengthening its position as a comprehensive ready-to-wear collection.
- Armani Exchange – The accessible luxury line remained independent, continuing to serve the younger, trend-focused market.
Armani Privé, the haute couture line launched in 2005, continues to operate separately from these three retail tiers, serving elite clientele with made-to-measure garments and exclusive accessories.
Giorgio Armani – The Pinnacle of Italian Luxury
Giorgio Armani Black Label garments emerge from Vestimenta SpA’s workshops, where artisans hand-finish details like surgeon’s cuffs and hand-rolled lapels.
A Black Label suit, ranging from £1,000 to £5,000, features full-canvas construction, hand-sewn buttonholes, and exclusive Italian textiles from mills like Loro Piana.
Boutiques at Milan’s via Borgonuovo 21, New York’s Fifth Avenue, and London’s Sloane Street exclusively carry Black Label collections.
Senior executives and established professionals over 35 favour Black Label for subtle signifiers like hand-picked stitching and proprietary fabric blends.
Emporio Armani – The Contemporary Luxury Line
Emporio Armani operates through a partnership with Zegna, producing garments in dedicated Italian facilities with select operations in Eastern Europe.
The eagle logo, introduced in 1981, symbolises Emporio’s position as a ready-to-wear luxury brand with prices from £200 for accessories to £1,500 for tailoring.
EA7, Emporio’s performance line, supplies athletic wear to Olympic teams and professional sports clubs, including SSC Napoli football club.
Emporio boutiques occupy prime retail locations like Milan’s via Manzoni and London’s Bond Street, with additional presence in Harrods and Selfridges.
Management consultants, financial analysts, and creative directors aged 25-35 typically select Emporio for modern interpretations of Armani’s minimalist aesthetic.
Armani Exchange – Entry-Level Luxury
Armani Exchange originated in 1991 as an American market initiative, expanding to 270 stores across 31 countries.
A|X pricing ranges from £20 for basics to £450 for outerwear, reflecting production in global manufacturing facilities rather than Italian workshops.
The Singapore-based design team creates trend-focused collections independently from Giorgio Armani’s direct oversight, unlike Black Label and Emporio lines.
Major shopping centres and high-street locations house A|X stores, targeting young urban professionals and university graduates entering corporate careers.
Choosing the Right Armani Level
Giorgio Armani Black Label suits feature signature details like waterfall shoulder construction and lightweight canvassing, essential for C-suite boardroom presence.
Emporio Armani offers performance-focused fabrics and contemporary silhouettes suited to dynamic business environments and frequent travel.
A|X provides accessible interpretations of runway trends, appropriate for casual workplace environments and weekend social occasions.
How to Authenticate Genuine Armani
Giorgio Armani Black Label garments carry a curved ‘GA’ logo, Italian production stamps, and serial numbers traceable through authorised retailers.
Emporio Armani pieces feature consistent eagle logo placement, uniform stitching density, and clearly marked production origins in Italy or licensed European facilities.
A|X items display standardised logo typography and manufacturing information on dedicated authenticity labels.
Legitimate retailers include Armani boutiques, certified department stores (Bergdorf Goodman, Harrods), and official online platforms.
The worth of an Armani garment extends beyond price tags to appropriateness for specific professional contexts and social environments.
Each label serves distinct purposes: Black Label for established achievement, Emporio for rising success, and A|X for professional beginnings.
Style Like a True Gentleman
Before we say goodbye, here’s one of the best-kept secrets in men’s styling circles, a secret that only a few expert image consultants know or are willing to share.
First and foremost, professional styling requires knowing your unique body shape and seasonal colour palette – paramount factors in choosing perfectly fitting clothes in colours that complement your skin, eyes, and hair.
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Remember, the garments that compose your outfits come in various colours and you have to make sure that each hue complements your natural colour.
For that, you have to find out your seasonal colour palette, and you can do it by taking our free seasonal colour quiz for men.
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By now, you should already know your body shape and unique colour palette; the next step is to discover your ideal personal fashion style.
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4. Professional Image Consultancy with The VOU
And if you want to style like a professional, by occasion, location, season, and time of the day, you can always ask our expert image consultants and fashion stylists for help.
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Remember, wearing luxury brands isn’t enough; to look stylish, confident, and successful, you must first know your body shape, colour palette, and ideal personal style, and only then style by occasion, location, season, and time of day.
Contact us today to save headaches, time, and money – it’s time to dress like a confident, successful gentleman of exquisite fashion taste – the first styling assessment is on us!