Ermenegildo Zegna
Encyclopedia
Ermenegildo Zegna is a leading Italian
fashion house, specialing in men's clothing. Founded in 1910, it is now managed by the fourth generation of the Zegna family and remains in family ownership. As well as producing suits for its own labels, it manufactures suits for labels such as Gucci
, Yves Saint Laurent
and Tom Ford
. Effective July 1, 2011 Ermenegildo Zegna has signed an agreement with Estée Lauder Companies Inc. The new license provides Estée Lauder Companies Inc. exclusive global rights to market fragrances and develop new cosmetics under the Ermemengildo Zegna Group's brands, thereby replacing the previous partnership with YSL Beauté. As one of the biggest global producers of fine fabrics (2.3 million metres per year), Zegna has been active in promoting improvements in wool
production around the world.
in the Biellese Prealps
. Zegna quickly gained a reputation for producing fine quality wool suits, and by the end of the 1930s, the Wool Mill employed 1,000 workers. In 1938 the Zegna Woollens Corporation was set up in New York although exports were not helped by the privations of war.
When Ermenegildo's sons Aldo (born 1920) and Angelo (born 1924) joined the company in 1942, it was renamed Ermenegildo Zegna and Sons. By 1955, the company employed 1,400 workers.
Ermenegildo died in 1966 at the age of 74. Aldo and Angelo took over the business and two years later they launched a line of ready-made suits, produced in Zegna's factory in Novara
.
Another factory was opened in Spain in 1973 while a Zegna plant opened in Switzerland
in 1977, which today employs about 1000 workers. As of 1999, the Zegna Group had eight manufacturing plants in Italy, two in Spain, three in Switzerland, one in Mexico and one in Turkey. While many Zegna suits are factory produced, the majority of premium suits are still made-to-measure.
The first boutique was opened in Paris in 1980, followed by Milan in 1985. In 2010 their numbers had grown to 560 boutiques of which over 300 controlled by the company, Ermenegildo Zegna Zegna's flagship boutique locations are mostly found in the United States, Europe, Japan and China with megastores in Atlanta, New York City
, Beverly Hills
, Houston
, Bogotá
, Boston, Las Vegas
, Lima
, Mexico City
, London
, Milan
, Paris
, Manila
, Madrid
, Tokyo
, São Paulo
, Hong Kong
, Beijing
, Shanghai
, New Delhi
, Mumbai
, Kuala Lumpur
, Ulaanbaatar
and Bangkok
. Another flagship will open at Westfield Sydney in Sydney
in 2011.
Aldo died in 2000, but Angelo remains the Honorary President of the company. Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody
advertised Zegna's Spring/Summer 2003 and Fall/Winter 2003 lines.
s, knitwear, shirts, accessories and sportswear.
Ermenegildo Zegna has a yearly output of over 2.3 million meters of fabric, 600,000 sleeve units suits, 1.6 million pieces of sportswear and 1.7 million textile accessories. Zegna employs over 7,000 workers worldwide. The export quota was more than 90% in 2010 divided equally between Europe, Americas and Asia.
As one of the biggest buyers of ultra-fine Merino
wool, Ermenegildo Zegna has encouraged, supported and rewarded the efforts of the Australian wool industry since 1963 in the production of finer and softer wools. Despite this, the former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating
was criticised by the Liberal Party for wearing his favourite Zegna double-breasted suits as it has been a tradition since the 1960s that Australian Prime Ministers wear Anthony Squires suits.
In 2002 the Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum Trophy was launched for wool that is 13.9 micron and finer. Wool from Australia
, New Zealand
, Argentina
and South Africa
may be entered and a winner is named from each country.
In 2010 a soft ultra-fine, 10-micron fleece, from Windradeen, New South Wales
set a new world record in the fineness of wool fleeces when it won the Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum International Trophy.
Ermenegildo Zegna's "Su Misura" suits are made-to-measure and orderable in all Ermenegildo Zegna stores. The cost is typically 15-20% more than regular Ermenegildo Zegna suits, but the service provides clients a custom ordered suit detailed to his own specifications. Ermenegildo Zegna's website claims, "Ermenegildo Zegna's "Su Misura" service makes it possible to produce tailor-made suits, jackets, trousers, coats, shirts, [and] ties in just a few weeks, respecting the clients size and needs, and maintaining the standards of quality for which Zegna is rightfully famous. [...] Ermenegildo Made to Measure specialists are at your disposal. Schedule an appointment and you will be able to choose your very personal Su Misura suit, starting from the selection of the fabric right down to defining all the details that will make it truly unique."
"E.Z BY ZEGNA" is a brand started in 1997 in cooperation with Japanese clothing manufacturer Sanyo Shokai. During years of expansion and also thanks to an advertising
campaign on major media, E.Z BY ZEGNA brand has become an important landmark for young clothing consumers in Japan. The brand is also observed by men's clothing magazines of nearby countries such as China
and Taiwan
. , there were 25 "E.Z BY ZEGNA" stores across Japan.
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
fashion house, specialing in men's clothing. Founded in 1910, it is now managed by the fourth generation of the Zegna family and remains in family ownership. As well as producing suits for its own labels, it manufactures suits for labels such as Gucci
Gucci
The House of Gucci, better known simply as Gucci , is an Italian fashion and leather goods label, part of the Gucci Group, which is owned by French company PPR...
, Yves Saint Laurent
Yves Saint Laurent (brand)
Yves Saint Laurent or YSL is a luxury fashion house founded by Yves Saint Laurent and his partner, Pierre Bergé. Today, its chief designer is Stefano Pilati. Yves Saint Laurent, founder of the brand, died in 2008.-History:...
and Tom Ford
Tom Ford
Thomas Carlyle "Tom" Ford is an American fashion designer and film director. He gained international fame for his turnaround of the Gucci fashion house and the creation of the Tom Ford label before directing the Oscar-nominated film A Single Man.-Early life :Tom Ford was born August 27, 1961 in...
. Effective July 1, 2011 Ermenegildo Zegna has signed an agreement with Estée Lauder Companies Inc. The new license provides Estée Lauder Companies Inc. exclusive global rights to market fragrances and develop new cosmetics under the Ermemengildo Zegna Group's brands, thereby replacing the previous partnership with YSL Beauté. As one of the biggest global producers of fine fabrics (2.3 million metres per year), Zegna has been active in promoting improvements in wool
Wool
Wool is the textile fiber obtained from sheep and certain other animals, including cashmere from goats, mohair from goats, qiviut from muskoxen, vicuña, alpaca, camel from animals in the camel family, and angora from rabbits....
production around the world.
History
Ermenegildo Zegna founded the company in 1910 in TriveroTrivero
Trivero is a comune in the Province of Biella in the Italian region Piedmont, located about 80 km northeast of Turin and about 14 km northeast of Biella.It is an important centre of the wool industry....
in the Biellese Prealps
Biellese Prealps
The Biellese Prealps, or prealpi biellesi form an area of the Italian prealps situated to the south of the Pennine Alps. Sometimes they are regarded as a distinct Alpine group, at others as a subgroup of the Pennine Alps....
. Zegna quickly gained a reputation for producing fine quality wool suits, and by the end of the 1930s, the Wool Mill employed 1,000 workers. In 1938 the Zegna Woollens Corporation was set up in New York although exports were not helped by the privations of war.
When Ermenegildo's sons Aldo (born 1920) and Angelo (born 1924) joined the company in 1942, it was renamed Ermenegildo Zegna and Sons. By 1955, the company employed 1,400 workers.
Ermenegildo died in 1966 at the age of 74. Aldo and Angelo took over the business and two years later they launched a line of ready-made suits, produced in Zegna's factory in Novara
Novara
Novara is the capital city of the province of Novara in the Piedmont region in northwest Italy, to the west of Milan. With c. 105,000 inhabitants, it is the second most populous city in Piedmont after Turin. It is an important crossroads for commercial traffic along the routes from Milan to Turin...
.
Another factory was opened in Spain in 1973 while a Zegna plant opened in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
in 1977, which today employs about 1000 workers. As of 1999, the Zegna Group had eight manufacturing plants in Italy, two in Spain, three in Switzerland, one in Mexico and one in Turkey. While many Zegna suits are factory produced, the majority of premium suits are still made-to-measure.
The first boutique was opened in Paris in 1980, followed by Milan in 1985. In 2010 their numbers had grown to 560 boutiques of which over 300 controlled by the company, Ermenegildo Zegna Zegna's flagship boutique locations are mostly found in the United States, Europe, Japan and China with megastores in Atlanta, New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, Beverly Hills
Beverly Hills, California
Beverly Hills is an affluent city located in Los Angeles County, California, United States. With a population of 34,109 at the 2010 census, up from 33,784 as of the 2000 census, it is home to numerous Hollywood celebrities. Beverly Hills and the neighboring city of West Hollywood are together...
, Houston
Houston, Texas
Houston is the fourth-largest city in the United States, and the largest city in the state of Texas. According to the 2010 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 2.1 million people within an area of . Houston is the seat of Harris County and the economic center of , which is the ...
, Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
, Boston, Las Vegas
Las Vegas metropolitan area
The Las Vegas Valley is the heart of the Las Vegas-Paradise, NV MSA also known as the Las Vegas–Paradise–Henderson MSA which includes all of Clark County, Nevada, and is a metropolitan area in the southern part of the U.S. state of Nevada. The Valley is defined by the Las Vegas Valley landform, a ...
, Lima
Lima
Lima is the capital and the largest city of Peru. It is located in the valleys of the Chillón, Rímac and Lurín rivers, in the central part of the country, on a desert coast overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Together with the seaport of Callao, it forms a contiguous urban area known as the Lima...
, Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, Milan
Milan
Milan is the second-largest city in Italy and the capital city of the region of Lombardy and of the province of Milan. The city proper has a population of about 1.3 million, while its urban area, roughly coinciding with its administrative province and the bordering Province of Monza and Brianza ,...
, Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, Manila
Manila
Manila is the capital of the Philippines. It is one of the sixteen cities forming Metro Manila.Manila is located on the eastern shores of Manila Bay and is bordered by Navotas and Caloocan to the north, Quezon City to the northeast, San Juan and Mandaluyong to the east, Makati on the southeast,...
, Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
, Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
, São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Beijing
Beijing
Beijing , also known as Peking , is the capital of the People's Republic of China and one of the most populous cities in the world, with a population of 19,612,368 as of 2010. The city is the country's political, cultural, and educational center, and home to the headquarters for most of China's...
, Shanghai
Shanghai
Shanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
, Mumbai
Mumbai
Mumbai , formerly known as Bombay in English, is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra. It is the most populous city in India, and the fourth most populous city in the world, with a total metropolitan area population of approximately 20.5 million...
, Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur is the capital and the second largest city in Malaysia by population. The city proper, making up an area of , has a population of 1.4 million as of 2010. Greater Kuala Lumpur, also known as the Klang Valley, is an urban agglomeration of 7.2 million...
, Ulaanbaatar
Ulaanbaatar
Ulan Bator or Ulaanbaatar is the capital and largest city of Mongolia. An independent municipality, the city is not part of any province, and its population as of 2008 is over one million....
and Bangkok
Bangkok
Bangkok is the capital and largest urban area city in Thailand. It is known in Thai as Krung Thep Maha Nakhon or simply Krung Thep , meaning "city of angels." The full name of Bangkok is Krung Thep Mahanakhon Amon Rattanakosin Mahintharayutthaya Mahadilok Phop Noppharat Ratchathani Burirom...
. Another flagship will open at Westfield Sydney in Sydney
Sydney
Sydney is the most populous city in Australia and the state capital of New South Wales. Sydney is located on Australia's south-east coast of the Tasman Sea. As of June 2010, the greater metropolitan area had an approximate population of 4.6 million people...
in 2011.
Aldo died in 2000, but Angelo remains the Honorary President of the company. Oscar-winning actor Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody
Adrien Brody is an American actor and film producer. He received widespread recognition and acclaim after starring in Roman Polanski's The Pianist . Winning the Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 at age 29, he is the youngest actor to do so...
advertised Zegna's Spring/Summer 2003 and Fall/Winter 2003 lines.
Production
Zegna's range includes fabrics, suits, necktieNecktie
A necktie is a long piece of cloth worn for decorative purposes around the neck or shoulders, resting under the shirt collar and knotted at the throat. Variants include the ascot tie, bow tie, bolo tie, and the clip-on tie. The modern necktie, ascot, and bow tie are descended from the cravat. Neck...
s, knitwear, shirts, accessories and sportswear.
Ermenegildo Zegna has a yearly output of over 2.3 million meters of fabric, 600,000 sleeve units suits, 1.6 million pieces of sportswear and 1.7 million textile accessories. Zegna employs over 7,000 workers worldwide. The export quota was more than 90% in 2010 divided equally between Europe, Americas and Asia.
Wool industry
Merino
The Merino is an economically influential breed of sheep prized for its wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep...
wool, Ermenegildo Zegna has encouraged, supported and rewarded the efforts of the Australian wool industry since 1963 in the production of finer and softer wools. Despite this, the former Australian Prime Minister Paul Keating
Paul Keating
Paul John Keating was the 24th Prime Minister of Australia, serving from 1991 to 1996. Keating was elected as the federal Labor member for Blaxland in 1969 and came to prominence as the reformist treasurer of the Hawke Labor government, which came to power at the 1983 election...
was criticised by the Liberal Party for wearing his favourite Zegna double-breasted suits as it has been a tradition since the 1960s that Australian Prime Ministers wear Anthony Squires suits.
In 2002 the Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum Trophy was launched for wool that is 13.9 micron and finer. Wool from Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, Argentina
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
and South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
may be entered and a winner is named from each country.
In 2010 a soft ultra-fine, 10-micron fleece, from Windradeen, New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
set a new world record in the fineness of wool fleeces when it won the Ermenegildo Zegna Vellus Aureum International Trophy.
Brands
Most Zegna wool suits cost in the US$2,300 - $4,500 range. Price is dependent upon several factors. Zegna's top line is "Couture," formerly known as "Napoli Couture."Ermenegildo Zegna's "Su Misura" suits are made-to-measure and orderable in all Ermenegildo Zegna stores. The cost is typically 15-20% more than regular Ermenegildo Zegna suits, but the service provides clients a custom ordered suit detailed to his own specifications. Ermenegildo Zegna's website claims, "Ermenegildo Zegna's "Su Misura" service makes it possible to produce tailor-made suits, jackets, trousers, coats, shirts, [and] ties in just a few weeks, respecting the clients size and needs, and maintaining the standards of quality for which Zegna is rightfully famous. [...] Ermenegildo Made to Measure specialists are at your disposal. Schedule an appointment and you will be able to choose your very personal Su Misura suit, starting from the selection of the fabric right down to defining all the details that will make it truly unique."
"E.Z BY ZEGNA" is a brand started in 1997 in cooperation with Japanese clothing manufacturer Sanyo Shokai. During years of expansion and also thanks to an advertising
Advertising
Advertising is a form of communication used to persuade an audience to take some action with respect to products, ideas, or services. Most commonly, the desired result is to drive consumer behavior with respect to a commercial offering, although political and ideological advertising is also common...
campaign on major media, E.Z BY ZEGNA brand has become an important landmark for young clothing consumers in Japan. The brand is also observed by men's clothing magazines of nearby countries such as China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
and Taiwan
Taiwan
Taiwan , also known, especially in the past, as Formosa , is the largest island of the same-named island group of East Asia in the western Pacific Ocean and located off the southeastern coast of mainland China. The island forms over 99% of the current territory of the Republic of China following...
. , there were 25 "E.Z BY ZEGNA" stores across Japan.