When did you first visit Australia? Where did you go? And what were your first impressions?
I visited Australia for the first time with my father when I was little more than a boy in the 60’s. I was immediately very impressed by the gorgeous landscapes and the beauty of this country that I’m really fond of. Even now I’m always astonished when I have the chance to visit some Australian farms, still surrounded by beautiful unspoilt nature.
How does wool from Australia differ from the rest of the world?
Merino breeding is complex and difficult, requiring great skill and experience. Incredible commitment required, often in demanding environmental conditions. Selective breeding has created the unique Australian Merino, which produces the highest quality grades of wool suitable for apparel. Australian Merino has been bred to produce, as well as fine wool, a heavy fleece and wool of consistent color and strength. It is remarkably difficult to rear sheep that produce Superfine Merino. The finest qualities of wool are obtained from sheep reared primarily for this fibre. Sheep breeds have evolved from a variety of environmental and genetic factors, with the soil and climate of a country largely determining the type of sheep and wool quality produced. Renowned for being soft and fine, Merino wool is loved by producers and consumers for being a unique fibre that’s easy on the skin and on the planet. Close to 80 per cent of Australia’s sheep flock is Merino, so the wool produced is well suited to high-quality apparel and top-end fashion houses.Other major wool-producing countries, such as China or New Zealand, have greater proportions of crossbreeds relative to Merino. As a consequence, they produce wools more suitable for interior applications, such as carpets, upholstery and furnishings which are not suited to the fine apparel market.
What is driving the Zegna expansion in Australia?
To shed light on an important but little-known aspect of Zegna’s luxury menswear. To improve our worldwide brand awareness. To explain our verticalization strategy and why we place such strong value on the importance of the raw materials. To celebrate an important Anniversary for Zegna and the Australian wool industry
What constitutes a fine fabric?
Fineness is a measure of wearability, comfort, touch and natural luster.
How has the brand been active in promoting improvements in wool production in Australia and the rest of the world?
Zegna’s continued commitment to Australian suppliers is strengthened by the Wool Awards, which marks 50 years in 2013. It’s very important for us to support individual wool growers across the country because this is an incentive for the Wool Growers to continuously improve the quality of their wool production. Success is linked to the prestige that participating in the Trophy represents for growers.
It has certainly helped ensure the production of an increased supply of superfine wools and it has also helped growers gain recognition for their commitment to quality which translates into better commercial potential for their wools. Woolgrowers are a significant part of Australian society, often employing many local people throughout the year to help care for their animals and land. By supporting woolgrowers, Ermenegildo Zegna helps support Australian rural communities.
Why choose superfine merino wool?
Wool is one of the oldest known textile fibers. Wool is a natural, biodegradable fiber; it is both renewable and recyclable and has natural antibacterial properties and insulates the body against cold and heat. It is also fire resistant and does not melt when burned.Merino wool in particular is exceptionally soft and naturally comfortable.To qualify as superfine, Merino wool fibers must be no thicker than 19.5 microns (1 micron = 1 thousandth of a millimeter).All wool fibers are undulated, but fibers from Merino sheep are more wavy than less precious kinds of wool.Merino wool fibers are highly resilient and elastic; they can be bent 30,000 times without danger of breaking or damage
What percentage of your range is made from wool?
Out of the raw materials that Lanificio Zegna produces, wool counts the 60-70 per cent.
Have you seen any changes in demand for the brand in the recent years?
Currently, consumers tend to regard design or wearability over fabric quality. However, EZ has made huge efforts in quality of fabrics, which has not changed over the years. Quality is the base of Zegna’s production.Absolute quality has made Zegna such a successful luxury brand.Wearability and design, without quality are short-lived.
Our heritage has been built on producing the finest fabrics in the world. It has been and continues to be a key to the success of our company.Our red seal is synonym of style, luxury and exclusivity.
A fabric marked by the label “Cloth – Ermenegildo Zegna” means the customer is assured of its unmatched quality and our aim is always the customer satisfaction from A to Z.
What is your personal favourite style of suit?
Double-Breasted suit
What is your vision for the brand going forward?
Our pioneering vision is and continues to be one of our strongest assets. We have a strong vision, a strong team and solid strategies. We have the power to continue to grow and develop the brand. We acquired complementary businesses that share our values and dedication to excellence. We are truly passionate about the company and are committed to its long-standing success
What is your view regarding online shopping?
Today the global world of digital marketing is a necessary and significant pillar perfectly complimentary to our brand strategy. With regard to this, we are developing a series of activities in order to involve our customer in a global Zegna experience. Zegna wants to confirm its commitment in offering an excellent product and an impeccable attention to customer service.
