In the 90s, the A|X Armani Exchange branch in Glorietta 4 was the secret weapon for ultimate club gear for those who didn't want to look like everyone else.

Party people (yes, that was the term) would be seen clad in Armani Exchange's latest collection as they hit the hottest spots like Streetlife, The Brewery, Venezia, Whereelse, Mars, and even Giraffe.

Upwardly mobile professionals also relied on the brand's more conservative pieces for an edgy but still office appropriate look that was good enough for after-work cocktails. In fact, the garments were classics in their own right.

Stores have come and gone but they stood proud. It only closed its doors a few months ago to relocate to another spot since opening their doors in 1998.

The new 134-square space with an open-floor plan was far more brightly lit than the old space in Glorietta 4. Invited guests also previewed their Autumn Winter 2022 collection; YOU.ME.US which is both a claim and pledge for a more democratic and inclusive line.

Garments and accessories for men and women carry the signature metropolitan imprint that the brand is famous for. This time, in minimal black and white, with appliques and the slogan prominently displayed in capital letters. The collection includes parkas, bomber and denim jackets, t-shirts, jeans, and cargo pants as well as jersey garments, shoes, textile accessories, and leather goods.

Another part of their collection is a collaboration with smileyworld to mark their 50th anniversary.

A|X created two designs, combining both brand identities for innovative and light-hearted pieces. One of the pieces cleverly replaces the smileyworld eyes with the letters from the Armani Exchange logo. The other references Giorgio Armani's trademark glasses and smile.

The selection has smileyworld prints on casual outerwear such as bomber jackets, parkas, and other accessories. There are also smileyworld patches onto down jackets, blousons, sweatshirts, t-shirts, socks, sneakers, and backpacks.

The result is a welcome and playful take on essentials after more than two years of bleak pandemic fashion. It is a specialized collection but still wearable long after the trend has dissipated. Twenty years down the line, it can be a collectors' item.

The A|X Armani Exchange brand was launched in 1991 and hit the Philippine shores in 1998, targeting a younger audience. In 2017, the brand portfolio was reorganized, and A|X Armani Exchange became one of the Armani group's three main brands.

In the Philippines, A|X Armani Exchange is exclusively distributed by Store Specialists Inc., with branches located at Glorietta, Alabang Town Center, Greenbelt, Power Plant Mall, Shangri-La plaza, and online at trunc.ph, rustans.com, and Zalora.