Biography

Ermenegildo Zegna (1892 – 1966) was the fashion designer and the founder of the eponymous Italian luxury menswear brand. Born in Trivero, Italy, he was the tenth child of the watchmaker Angelo Zegna. Ermenegildo was just 18 years old when he founded a wool mill in his hometown and started to produce fabrics using just four looms. His idea was to produce and source the best and most exclusive fabrics in the world directly from countries of origin.

1910 – 1930

Ermenegildo’s dream was to create fabrics of unparalleled quality, and by 1915, the Zegna mill was renowned for producing some of the finest wool. Zegna’s meticulous attention to detail and commitment to craftsmanship became the cornerstones of his budding legacy.

1930 – 1960

As the 1930s dawned, Ermenegildo Zegna expanded his vision to include tailored suits, bringing the brand’s commitment to quality to the forefront of men’s fashion. Zegna’s designs were not just clothing, they were masterpieces, epitomizing Italian elegance. His tailoring expertise attracted a discerning clientele, solidifying Zegna’s reputation as a maestro of menswear. Thinking big, Zegna started exporting fabrics to America in 1938 and less than a decade later were being sold in over 40 countries. While the company was quickly expanding internationally, Zegna was also focused on the restoration of his hometown, working on his reforestation project and trying to increase the town’s popularity as a tourist destination.

1960 – 1980

The mid-1960s marked a transition as Zegna’s sons, Aldo and Angelo, took over the leadership roles within the company. Together, they steered the brand into new opportunities, introducing ready-to-wear collections, sportswear, and accessories. Under their guidance, the Zegna legacy evolved, allowing the brand enter into producing of luxury menswear.

1980 – 2010

In 1980 the iconic brand opened its first flagship boutique in Paris, followed by a storefront in London, Milan and then Beijing, marking Zegna as the first western luxury menswear brand to open a boutique in China.

1990s – present days

During the 1990s, the third generation of the Zegna family entered the business. Angelo’s son, and namesake of the company’s founder, Ermenegildo “Gildo” Zegna, became CEO of the company in 1997, and his cousin Paolo became the brand’s chairman. Ermenegildo Zegna’s legacy lives on in the brand that bears his name, but more importantly, continuing to influence the very essence of Italian elegance.