Giorgio Armani expands Armani/Archive with a second capsule carrying archival material in a physical collection. The release follows the debut of the digital platform last September and features 13 looks drawn from collections between 1979 and 1994. The selection includes men’s and women’s designs, reproduced from original garments and prepared for current distribution.
The capsule focuses on the jacket as a key element. Variations in cut, proportion and construction define the selection, tracing the changes that occurred in different eras. Each track is associated with a specific moment within the archive. The collection acts as a focused study of Armani’s approach to couture during this period.
References to key archival moments appear throughout the selection. An Autumn Winter 1979 jacket is draped over the shoulders, striking a balance between the structure and softness that shaped the early collections. The look appeared in July 1979 Vogue Italy pension.
Other examples include work-inspired outerwear from Spring Summer 1983, a three-piece suit from Autumn Winter 1990 and an Autumn Winter 1981 jacket updated by ō-yoroi, a form of ceremonial samurai armour. The capsule revisits an off-white collar jacket from Spring Summer 1987, which introduces a more relaxed approach to tailored clothing. Throughout the selection, the garments mark an evolution over fifteen years, passing through different references. The collection’s design influences include references to Japan in the 1980s and works by a Russian artist Leon Bakst.
To support the launch, he teamed up with Armani Eli Russell Linnets in a campaign that draws from early visuals associated with the brand. The second Armani/Archivio capsule is available online, select Giorgio Armani boutiques and retail partners including Apropos Berlino, Just One Eye Los Angeles and My Theresa.
