Armani and Versace have particular styles and eye-catching statements that can entirely transform your clothing. The two high-end Italian fashion labels concentrate on men’s and women’s apparel and ready-to-wear accessories. These two fashion names battle on several fronts, from sunglasses and exquisite perfumes to luxury handbags. Given that these two fashion powerhouses command a passionate fanbase, many shoppers still don’t recognize the difference between the two. That said, a detailed Armani vs Versace comparison contrasts these two popular expensive brands by assessing each vendor’s products, marketing methods, services, history, and more.
Armani vs. Versace: Overview
As was previously said, Armani and Versace are both high-end Italian luxury labels that offer comparable ready-to-wear apparel, accessories, eyewear, cosmetics, and fragrances for both men and women.
Armani vs. Versace: What Are They?
Armani, the brand name under which Giorgio Armani operates, is an Italian high-end fashion house with roots in Milan. Giorgio Armani established the fashion brand that now produces and sells ready-to-wear, leather goods, footwear, accessories, and home decor. Luxury eyeglasses manufacturer Luxottica, cosmetics giant L’Oréal, and watch and jewellery maker Fossil are all licensed to use the company’s name and logo. Giorgio Armani and Sergio Galeotti created the private fashion house in 1975, but today the company is run by Giorgio Armani and his son, Cristiano Armani. The company employs over 7,300 people. In 2020, the company made 90 million euros in profit.
Gianni Versace, also known as Versace, is an Italian luxury fashion brand like Armani. The company was founded by Gianni Versace in 1978 and is known for flashy prints and bright colours. Versace creates Italian-made ready-to-wear accessories and haute couture under its Atelier Versace brand. The brand licenses its name and branding to Luxottica for eyewear. Medusa inspires its logo. Versace has over 1,500 employees and operates under its parent company, Capri Holdings.
Common Armani vs Versace Products
The common items provided by both brands are:
- Eyewear
- Handbags
- Fragrances
- Pieces of jewellery
- Shoes
What Is in the Logo?
Armani and Versace have created some of the most recognizable brand identities in the apparel industry. These are household staples worldwide, and many consumers associate them with their logos. The iconic Armani eagle emblem features the bird facing right. It’s not your typical eagle—it has “G” and “A” written across horizontal stripes. Since the United States is a significant trading partner, the iconic eagle on the logo is a tribute to the country.
The Greek mythological monster Medusa’s head is used as the Versace hand symbol. This emblem was first scratched into the floor of the ruin in Reggio Calabria, where the Versace children spent their childhood, by their father. Gianni Versace chose the Medusa for his label’s emblem because her allure was irresistible, and she offered no escape.
Read on for a comparison of Armani vs Versace that delves into each label’s origins and evolution.
Armani History
Let’s start with the history of Armani.
Founding
As previously stated, Armani and his architect partner Sergio formed Giorgio Armani SpA in 1975. According to reports, the funds came from Armani’s Volkswagen. In 1978, the fashion behemoth negotiated a licensing agreement with Gruppo Finanziario Tessile (GFT). In 1980, they formed a licensing arrangement with L’Oreal to produce and distribute fragrances, cosmetics, and beauty items. It collaborated with Luxottica on eyewear in 1988.
During the debut of the A|X Armani exchange in 1991, the Armani fashion powerhouse also entered into a manufacturing and distribution agreement with Simint. The Armani brand was formed in 1993 by 23 licensees and two large joint ventures in Japan.
Major Acquisitions
Armani’s goal in the 1990s was to revoke licenses and bring production in-house to control quality and product contribution. Acquisitions of Antinea (1990), Simmons (1996), and Intai (1997) resulted in manufacturing plans being moved back in-house (1998). Armani purchased GFT in 2000 and formed a joint venture with Zegna to manufacture and market the Collezioni men’s collection. In addition, it increased its part of the Itochu-led joint venture in Japan to 85%.
In the early 2000s, Armani also opened five megastores. These stores were created by Massimiliano and Doriana Fuksas, beginning with the Armani/Manzoni store in Milan in 2000, and include all of the company’s brands.
Other branches are in:
- Hong Kong (Armani/Chater house, opened in 2002)
- Munich (Armani/Funf Hofe opened in 2003)
- Tokyo (Armani / Ginza, 2007)
- New York City (Armani /Fifth avenue, 2009)
From 2003 to 2012, Safilo Group was the exclusive license owner for the Armani-banded eyewear before losing it to Luxottica. In 2007, Armani teamed up with Samsung to create a line of high-end electronic goods. And finally, in 2021, Giorgio Armani dismissed merging with either LVMH or Kering. Still, the same year, luxury yacht maker Italian Sea Group announced that Giorgio Armani SpA was investing in their IPO at the Italian Bourse.
Versace History
Now that you know the history of Armani in-depth, it’s time to delve into the history of Versace.
Founding
Gianni Versace designed his first collection for Callaghan, Genny, and Complice in 1978. The company launched under Gianni Versace Donna and opened its first boutique in Milan through Della Spiga in the same year. Gianni designed for several music artists, such as stage and album cover music for Elton John and Michael Jackson, in 1992. He also designed clothing for the princes of Wales.
Gianni Versace Killed
After Gianni was murdered in 1997, his sister Donatella- the then vice president- took over as creative director, and his older brother became the CEO. The green Versace dress Jennifer Lopez wore at the Grammy awards in 2000 got huge media attention. This dress was voted the fifth most iconic dress of all time.
Major Acquisitions
The Blackstone Group paid €210 million (about $230 million) in February 2014 to acquire a 20 percent share in Versace. In 2016, there were over 1,500 boutiques open in dozens of countries. To the best of our knowledge, the first store outside of Italy opened in 1991 in Glasgow, Scotland. Fast-acting in September of 2018, Michael Kors Limited announced that it had acquired 100% of Versace from Blackstone and the Versace family for $2.1 billion.
Donatella Versace stayed as head of creative design after the acquisition was finalized in December 2018. Capri Holdings Limited formed a new global fashion luxury conglomerate in January 2019 with the addition of Michael Kors and Jimmy Choo and Gianni Versace S.r.l.
Eco-friendly Products
When it comes to protecting the environment, Versace decided to phase out the use of fur in all of its goods in 2018, and it has also pledged to end the use of kangaroo leather by 2020. In October of 2018, Versace said that its inaugural Pre-Fall season presentation would take place in New York on December 2—Gianni Versace’s actual birthday. By 2021, Versace had opened the first of its New York City boutiques in SoHo, and the news of its opening stunned the media across the country.
After learning about the origins of Armani and Versace, we can move on to learning more about the things these companies produce and sell.
Armani vs. Versace: Products
Products by Armani and Versace have been in the spotlight for many years, broken many fashion records, and made appearances at virtually every major award ceremony and runway event. Of course, they wouldn’t be able to sustain such a high profile without offering a wide variety of high-quality products that appeal to a wide audience.
Popular Armani Clothing
Clothes designed by Giorgio Armani exude class and sophistication. Dresses, coats, shirts, pants, and more are available in this assortment. Listed here are some of Armani’s most liked garment designs.
Cotton-Jersey Joggers
Joggers made of cotton-jersey fleece are the epitome of casual sporty chic. They feature a drawstring at the waist, two functional side pockets, and a rubberized trademark logo that references the rest of the capsule line.
Short Leather Jacket with Pipping and Vinyl
Armani is well-known for its structured designs, and the short jacket made of ponyskin leather with defined volumes is no exception. There are vinyl accents in clashing colours that really make it pop. The two patch pockets on the chest are an added touch to this crew-neck style with a covered press stud finish. The design echoes the collection’s emphasis on contrasting exchanges—a perfect set for the first chilly days of fall.
Busty Velvet Dresses
The velvet bustier dress is made of velvet, a popular fabric representing Armani’s classy, refined style. It has appropriate removable shoulder straps and tiny pleats on the bodice that lead to the skirt for further movement. The dress is always current since it offers the most appeal to the evening appearance or ensembles for special occasions.
Popular Versace Clothing
Below are some of the most popular products from Versace:
Fendace Gold Baroque Shirt in Print
The golden-printed shirt design is one of Versace’s most recognizable collections. When you see rich yellow tones, black, and white, you know it’s a Versace shirt. Relaxed tees with equally intricate graphics, logos, and the popular Medusa head creations are also available.
Jeans Couture Bomber Jackets
Versace sells legendary bomber jackets as well. These, like the shirts, contain elaborate designs, but some incorporate colour, making them appear fantastic. Everyone notices your style when you wear a printed Versace jacket, making it a luxury item.
Versace Bondage Dresses
Gianni Versace is often credited with transforming the way women are portrayed in high fashion, mainstreaming ostentatious opulence, and using bold patterns, cutting-edge cuts, and gold-themed dresses. Women like Cindy Crawford, Helena Christensen, Beyonce, Naomi Campbell, and Kim Kardashian have been spotted in fashionable Versace bondage gowns. The dresses fit well, giving a bodycon silhouette, and these merge well with asymmetric necklines, cutouts, and skin-bearing fabrics. For those looking for flirty dresses for a big night, Versace is the brand to opt for.
Sunglasses
Handmade in Italy from high-grade materials, including titanium, stainless steel, and cellulose acetate, Versace eyewear is renowned for its unmistakable style and lasting excellence. The frames and temples of the majority of the glasses feature the iconic gold Versace logo. Versace makes eyeglasses in a wide range of frame forms to suit a wide array of facial profiles. You can look fashionable by donning a pair of their oversized frames or sleek, modern styles, each of which bears the brand’s famous logo on the arm.
Final Thoughts
Armani and Versace, two of Italy’s most renowned fashion houses, are known worldwide for their opulent, often interchangeable designs. Both of these fashion icons have amassed massive fan bases. Although Armani has been popular across generations, its core demographic remains female, while young people nowadays are more likely to identify it with Versace. Saying that one of the two brands is superior to the other is unfair. What matters is what the customer wants. But without a doubt, both brands will retain a substantial following in the United States, Europe, and beyond.
