Zegna’s innovation-filled ‘Secondskin’ sneaker began with a pair of leather gloves
Zegna’s ‘Triple Stitch Secondskin’ sneaker sees the Italian house experiment with glove leather for a lightweight shoe, designed to mould to the contours of the foot
Zegna strides into spring with the launch of ‘Triple Stitch Secondskin’, a new iteration of its ‘Triple Stitch’ sneaker – a foundational style for the Italian house, which was reinvigorated last year when it returned for S/S 2023.
Staying true to the style’s principles of functionality and tradition – where a sleek, minimal design meets the historic craft for which Zegna is known – this new version is elevated with the use of ’Secondskin’, a material pioneered by the house.
Light-footed: Zegna introduces ‘Triple Stitch Secondskin’ sneaker
The research for ‘Secondskin’ began with the brand honing in on the type of leather traditionally used for the creation of gloves to create the exterior of the shoe, while experimenting with a lightweight toe-counter for dexterity. Aptly named, the resulting ‘Secondskin’ leather is less than one millimetre thick and is coupled with Stroblem – a flexible suede-leather fabric finished with a napped surface – for the insole, while a fine lining helps the sneaker to be perfectly form-fitting.
This latest design is expertly crafted in Parma, Italy. Each Zegna artisan is trained for 12 months to become a master of their craft, and a team of 13 is involved in making each pair of ‘Triple Stitch Secondskin’ sneakers. It requires 68 components to create each shoe, involving careful working of the New Zealand calf leather, which has been tanned in such a way as to create a soft, buttery leather made to resist creasing.
The slip-on ‘Triple Stitch’ sneaker is recognisable for it streamlined silhouette and elasticated criss-cross fashion, which the house says is designed to recall the three hand stitches on a suit lapel. This latest version continues the signature style’s evolution, honing the combination of form and function at its heart.
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox.
Tianna Williams is Wallpaper’s staff writer. When she isn’t writing extensively across varying content pillars, ranging from design and architecture to travel and art, she also helps put together the daily newsletter. She enjoys speaking to emerging artists, designers and architects, writing about gorgeously designed houses and restaurants, and day-dreaming about her next travel destination.
-
Dior’s new Beverly Hills dining salon raises the bar for couture cuisineFrom Peter Marino’s onyx bar and faceted mirrored walls to Nicole Wittenberg’s vast, immersive botanical canvas, Dior’s first restaurant outside Paris is here
-
Inside the factory where your Birkenstocks are madePart high-tech laboratory, part artisanal workshop, the German factory straddles past and future. For Wallpaper*, Stuart Brumfitt takes a rare tour
-
Nathalie Du Pasquier, Peter Shire and Barbara Stauffacher Solomon create exclusive artworks for Riso ClubGlasgow print studio Risotto celebrates the 100th issue of its monthly Riso Club – a hand-printed, hand-posted subscription that has grown from a small artist exchange into a global community
-
Revisiting the showstopping runway sets of men’s fashion weekAs Men’s Fashion Week S/S 2025 draws to a close, Wallpaper* picks the season’s most transporting runway sets, from giant cats at Dior Men to a ‘fairytale ravescape’ at Prada
-
Utilitarian men’s fashion that will elevate your everydayFrom Prada to Margaret Howell, utilitarian and workwear-inspired men’s fashion gets an upgrade for S/S 2024
-
Men’s Fashion Week S/S 2025: what to expectBeginning this weekend, everything we know about Men‘s Fashion Week S/S 2025 so far, from Dries Van Noten’s final show in Paris to an intimate Craig Green presentation in London
-
Colourful cashmere to brighten even the greyest of winter daysElevate your mood – and your wardrobe – with our pick of colourful cashmere sweaters, scarves, hats and more, perfect gifts for men and women
-
Private view: autumn fashion on display at David Zwirner galleryPhotographer Dham Srifuengfung captures the best autumn fashion on a cast of cultural characters in a London art gallery, as seen in the November Art Issue of Wallpaper*
-
Zegna x The Elder Statesman launches with Los Angeles pop-up in a Jean Prouvé-designed structureZegna x The Elder Statesman arrives worldwide this month, including a special stop in Los Angeles. Here, Alessandro Sartori and Greg Chait tell Wallpaper* the story behind the collaboration
-
Standout men's suits for stepping into springStylish men's suits for springtime events, including lightweight, naturally hued styles by Loro Piana, Brunello Cucinelli and Bottega Veneta
-
Tailored suits: make a style statement in a smart jacketSmarten up your act with a selection of elegant men's jackets, whether your err towards check, pinstripe or tuxedo for your tailored suit