Emporio Armani Vs Giorgio Armani: Is There A Difference?

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Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani are just two of Armani’s diffusion lines, but what’s the difference? This Emporio Armani vs Giorgio Armani article will tell you everything you need to know.

Armani is a top Italian fashion house known for chic ready-to-wear clothing and is made up of several diffusion lines. Each diffusion line offers a different style of clothing at a different price range, so there is an option for every budget and every personal style. Whether you are looking for casual athleisure wear or formal wear for a special occasion, you are bound to find something you love!

Giorgio Armani logo
©Takatoshi Kurikawa | Depositphotos.com

However, all these diffusion lines can get a little confusing – that’s where we come in! This article will explain the difference between Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani so you can easily pick the right brand for you.

We will take a little look at the history of each brand, then delve into the differences, including the price range and style of each line, and take a look at some of the best-selling pieces from each brand before coming to a conclusion on Emporio Armani vs Giorgio Armani.

Emporio Armani vs Giorgio Armani

The History of Armani

The luxury brand, Armani was founded in 1975 by the Italian fashion designer Giorgio Armani and his partner Sergio Galeotti and has grown to become one of the top fashion houses in the industry.

Initially, Giorgio Armani wanted to attend medical school and enrolled at the University of Milan in the 1950s, but left in 1953 to join the army. After two years in the military, Armani started in the fashion industry as a window dresser and then spent time spent working at Nino Cerrutti, Allegri, and Bagutta.

In 1976, the very first Giorgio Armani men’s ready-to-wear collection. After the brand grew throughout Italy and then the rest of Europe, Armani decided to conquer North America in 1979 and created the Main Line for men and women. Soon, new product lines were introduced, including underwear, accessories, swimwear, and beauty products.


During the 1980s, the brand expanded exponentially, and many new clothing lines were added to the Armani brand with the idea of making stylish, high-end fashion more accessible. The unique Armani adverts really helped to promote the brand; adverts featured on television and enormous ad campaigns on street billboards.

The Armani designs that were featured in films also helped to popularise the brand, especially American Gigolo and The Untouchables. Still to this day, Armani adverts are well-known, often featuring famous musical artists or athletes.

Now, The Armani brand has many diffusion lines offering a range of haute couture, ready-to-wear, home décor, leather goods, shoes, and accessories. The clothing lines under Armani include Armani Collezioni, Armani Exchange, Armani Privé, Armani Junior, Armani Baby, and the EA7 fashion label – as well as Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani.

Emporio Armani

Emporio Armani is the second brand in the world of Armani, offering runway and ready-to-wear collections for men and women. Giorgio Armani himself still designs the collections for Emporio Armani, and these collections feature at Milan fashion week each season.


There are now over 30 Emporio Armani stores in the United States alone, plus department stores and then the full range of clothing and accessories is available on the online store.

Giorgio Armani

Giorgio Armani is the brand’s first and original line, and now offers men’s and women’s ready-to-wear clothing as well as accessories, glasses, cosmetics, and perfumes. Again, this line is still designed by Giorgio Armani as it is one of the original Armani lines.


The Giorgio Armani brand is shown at Milan Fashion Week each season and is then sold in Giorgio Armani boutiques and department stores all over the world.

Differences between Emporio Armani Vs Giorgio Armani

There are several differences between Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani that are going to affect which brand you go for. We are going to look at the price range, quality, and style of each fashion label in order to help you decide which brand is right for you.

1. Price Range

Let’s begin with the price range so you can see which line best fits your budget. Emporio Armani clothing is available for between $125 and $3,895, their bags sell for between $175 and $825, while their shoes can be as affordable as $75 or as expensive as $625.

Giorgio Armani is a little more luxurious, and the line’s prices are higher. Clothing is sold for between $295 and $11,500 – although there is a dress in-store available for $52,000 – the bags are available for between $325 and $3,895, and the shoes range between $675 and $2,095. As you can see, Giorgio Armani is significantly more expensive; this also goes on to affect the quality of the clothes and accessories.

2. Quality

The clothing from each line is made from a range of materials – as the prices suggest, Giorgio Armani remains a little more luxe in their materials. Emporio Armani uses a range of viscose, cotton, linen, gabardine, georgette, cashmere, wool, silk, and polyester in their clothing, and then the bags are made from polyurethane, viscose, polyester, or PVC.

Giorgio Armani, on the other hand, uses silk, cashmere, viscose, cotton, polyamide, linen, virgin wool, and polyester to make their clothing, and then bovine leather, Nappa leather, PVC, velvet, lamé leather, satin, and pebbled patent leather to make their bags.

In terms of craftsmanship, most Emporio Armani pieces are made in China, India, Tunisia, and Bangladesh, while almost all Giorgio Armani items are made in Italy – another significant difference between each brand.

3. Brand Style

Both Giorgio Armani and the Emporio Armani line have that classic, Italian Armani style, but each has its own twist.

The Emporio Armani brand focuses on modern trends, and its target audience is young adults who are looking for glamorous, stylish clothes. This means you will find more casual wear in trendy silhouettes and styles, alongside a basic collection of plain t-shirts and sweaters, and timeless handbags.

Giorgio Armani has a contemporary design aesthetic with a focus on timeless, classic pieces that will last a lifetime. This fashion brand offers smart workwear and evening wear, with fewer casual pieces to choose from. The Giorgio Armani target audience is a little older, and so the styles are a little less trend-led and more elegant and sophisticated.

Best-selling items from Emporio Armani and Giorgio Armani

To help you gain a better idea of the style of each brand and work out which brand is best for you, we have brought together some of the best-selling clothing and accessories! We hope you love these pieces and add a few to your own wardrobe.

1. Dresses
Navy Blue Emporio Armani Long taffeta dress with back opening
Get this on Armani.com
Blue Giorgio Armani Midi Dresses
Get this on Armani.com

Both clothing lines have excellent formal wear available, just like this Long taffeta dress from Emporio Armani. This timeless dress is crafted from taffeta to give the dress a shimmering appearance and provide a little more structure on the full midi skort to ensure a stunning silhouette.

Gathering at the top of the skirt accentuates the waist, while the round neckline and sleeveless bodice give the dress an elegant, sophisticated look. At the back, the bodice and skirt are split to give a little sleek cut-out – a playful, unexpected detail at the back of the dress. This classic dress is available for just $745.

We love the refined, draped design of this Giorgio Armani Midi Dress that is perfect for any special occasion. The dress is made from viscose and has a shiny, satin-like finish, the perfect fabric to create loose drapes across the bodice and down the skirt.

The wrap top and cinched-in waist give this dress a flattering look, while the midi length and long sleeves ensure a more demure aesthetic. This Midi Dress is available in either cobalt blue, as pictured above, or black – so you can pick the perfect shade for you! Giorgio Armani is a little more expensive, and this dress is available for $2095.

2. Tops
Pink Emporio Armani Sleeveless alpaca-blend jumper with honeycomb weave
Get this on Armani.com
White Giorgio Armani Moroccan-silk sleeveless blouse
Get this on Armani.com

Sweater-vest style jumpers are so fashionable this season, and we love the slim silhouette and pop of color of the Emporio Armani Sleeveless alpaca-blend jumper with honeycomb weave. The alpaca wool blend gives this sweater a comfortable, cozy feel while the honeycomb weave really accentuated the softness of the sweater and gives a little extra detail to the minimalist design.

This jumper, with a round neck and cap sleeves, can be worn on its own for warmer days or layered with a classic white shirt to give you a slightly smarter look. The sweater is also available in grey if you like a more neutral tone.

The versatility of this Giorgio Armani Moroccan-silk sleeveless blouse makes it a must-have in your wardrobe. The blouse can be worn with jeans and heels for more of a casual look, or tucked into your favorite tailored trousers or black skirt for a super smart, elegant aesthetic.

The sleeveless blouse is made from 100% silk in Italy for a sumptuous feel and shimmering finish – totally timeless in this white hue. This blouse has a draped collar and draped V-neck for a chic look and the sleeveless design means it is perfect for layering.

3. Sneakers
White, purple and beige Emporio Armani Leather-and-mesh sneakers with oversized eagle
Get these on Armani.com
Black and white Giorgio Armani Soft calfskin sneakers
Get these on Armani.com

These Emporio Armani Leather-and-mesh sneakers are so stylish with their chunky design and color block print. These stylish sneakers will provide the perfect modern, colorful edge to any casual look.

These sneakers are made from layers of synthetic fabric in white, purple, and beige to create this striking look, with a thick pale blue rubber sole to guarantee comfort. The side of the sneakers is decorated with an overside eagle motif, the logo of Emporio Armani, while the brand name is printed on the heel of the sneakers.

The Giorgio Armani sneakers have a sleeker, more refined look – ideal if you like a more sophisticated look to your weekend looks. These sneakers are crafted from 100% bovine leather for a luxurious look and to ensure durability – and come in navy blue or white to suit any style.

The white platform soles are rubber, making these sneakers super comfortable, while the platform adds a little extra height for an elevated look. The Giorgio Armani logo features on the laces and is then embossed on the heel of the shoes to complete these minimalist, versatile sneakers.

4. Handbags
Grey Emporio Armani Baguette mini bag with deer print
Get this on Armani.com
Beige Giorgio Armani Large palmellato leather La Prima bag
Get this on Armani.com

The Emporio Armani Baguette mini bag is the perfect everyday bag that will fit all your everyday essentials and suit any outfit. The bag is made from grey polyurethane, which has been embossed with a grained print for a textured finish, making this handbag durable and ensuring it will stand the test of time.

This bag has a paired back, timeless style with the Emporio Armani brand name printed on the front of the bag in silver, while the bold, adjustable shoulder strap is adjustable to guarantee versatility. The top zipper allows easy access to the compact interior, fitted with an internal pocket.

If you are looking for a smarter, more refined look, then this Giorgio Armani Large palmellato leather La Prima bag is perfect for you. This glossy handbag has a classic look that can be used day or night with any look. Crafted from luxurious bovine leather, this handbag has a soft, rounded silhouette for a unique, chic aesthetic.

The front flap means quick and easy access to the spacious interior, while the shoulder strap is adjustable to three different lengths so the bag can be worn in a variety of different ways. The interior is fitted with a card holder, and lipstick compartment, and comes with a vanity mirror with its own little pocket.

Conclusion

Both brands have such stunning clothing and accessories available, making it really difficult to choose between the two, but it really comes down to mainly your budget and personal style. If you have a tighter budget and are looking for a more youthful, trendy aesthetic, the Emporio Armani is the brand for you. Their clothes are so fashionable and all available for a pretty affordable price for a luxury label.

If you have more money to spend and are after workwear or an outfit for a special occasion, then Giorgio Armani is the brand you need to go for. The pieces are a little more expensive, but the sleek and sophisticated designs made from luxurious fabrics are totally worth it!

We hope found you found this article analyzing Emporio Armani vs Giorgio Armani helpful! For more luxury fashion content, check out the links below.

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