The Judges Awards

09.3 Ermenegildo Zegna
A/W 09

What a difference a decade makes. At the beginning of the Noughties, Zegna was considered a stalwart tailored clothing company that garnered a lot of respect but generated little buzz. Today, it's a men's luxury lifestyle brand with Peter Marinodesigned flagship stores, a gleaming modernist Antonio Citterio-built HQ and a coveted spot on the Milan fashion calendar. For its autumn/winter outing, the familyrun behemoth displayed with effortless agility why it's the go-to label for modern luxury menswear connoisseurs. The design team gave classic navy-and-white banker stripes the boot by introducing the pattern in a rich camel and maroon and in a compelling grey and Bordeaux. The entire collection made you want to reach out from the seat and touch the models. Zegna's strength is rooted in its quality materials and fabrics - from high-polished leather riding boots to lustrous woven cashmere. But it's the ability to deliver fresh interpretations of traditional clothing that gives Zegna its newfound clout.

Based: Milan
Founded: 1910
Key features: Layering of suits, jackets and overcoats in similar hues of anthracite, camel and Bordeaux; cashmere, vicuña and wool fabrics; pinstripes taken beyond the conventional

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www.zegna.com

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