The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion
The Star Online: Lifestyle: Arts & Fashion |
| Italian label Ermenegildo Zegna dresses up the modern dandy Posted: 08 May 2013 04:53 PM PDT Ermenegildo Zegna celebrates the inherent beauty and wearability of superfine Australian wool. THERE is certainly something to be said about a man in a good suit. Currently, we see a trend for the younger generation of guys to embrace a need for suiting up – whether it be for business, or to fulfil a more casual inclination. While it would seem that some men are rather unfussy about the designs they put on, the make and material of a particular suit nevertheless have come to be held in high regard. Which isn't so much off the mark with respect to a reconciliation of style for the modern dandy. After all, you could say that fashion trends come and go, but the appreciation for exceptional quality in a garment will certainly remain. Take for example Italian luxury menswear label, Ermenegildo Zegna. Its legacy denotes a lasting heritage and tradition in dressing men with fine, well-cut suits. The focus is not only on the facets of design, but also the fundamentals of material selection and manufacture. Founded in 1910, Ermenegildo Zegna has remained a family business till today – and it is now managed by the fourth generation of the Zegna family. What started as a mere textile company is now globally recognised for being a successful fashion brand. As general merchandising manager and group fashion co-ordinator for Ermenegildo Zegna, Stefano Miglio says: "The success of the Zegna name is attributed to the company's efforts to be the first amongst its peers." "With change, you cannot be a follower. You have to be a leader – both in the past, in real time and in the future," commented Miglio during an interview with Star2 in Sydney, Australia recently. Which says a lot about Ermenegildo Zegna's relevance in today's fashion. Miglio explained that the label updates its designs frequently. "We stay current with the trends so our customers constantly have an updated look created with quality fabrics." With regard to suiting, the use of superfine wool has always been the material of choice for Ermenegildo Zegna. After all, there are few fibres in the world, natural or man-made, that can offer all the characteristics of pure, high-quality wool. Especially so when it comes to Merino wool. Merinos are regarded as having some of the finest and softest wool of any sheep and in Australia – where the country is reported to have a perfect climate for the breed – the wool growers there have flourished with the production of this prized material. According to Miglio, the wool industry is evolving very much compared to the past. He said: "In the very early years, wool was mainly for winterwear – but now wool is becoming the yarn that we use for a variety of fabrics. Wool is becoming more and more transitional." With an apt reverence to this, the company has established the annual Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards. The namesake event has awarded and rewarded the Australian wool growers' commitment to quality since 1963, this year being the 50th anniversary of its founding. The 50th Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Awards in Sydney saw VIPs, celebrities and friends of Zegna in attendance. The event also featured what was reported as the longest men's fashion show in Australia, with more than 60 male models outfitted in the Autumn/Winter 2013 collection and the presentation of the Australian Celebration Collection, a capsule dedicated to celebrate Zegna's golden relationship with Australia. Miglio described the capsule collection as a combination of old and new. He also explained that it was a nod to the 60s with the unveiling of an exclusive new fabric: the Trofeo Natural Comfort. "In a classic pied-de-poule pattern inspired by the styles produced in the 1960s, and in reference to the winning wools from the first Wool Awards, the Trofeo is the feature in the capsule collection." Gracing the event were Gildo Zegna, CEO of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group and chairman Paolo Zegna. They announced the winner of the 50th Edition Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Award for Superfine Wool and the prestigious Vellus Aureum Trophy, both won by Ed and Jill Hundy of Windradeen farm in New South Wales. The Ermenegildo Zegna Wool Award for Superfine Wool (18.5 microns and finer) evaluates fleeces according to the following criteria: trueness of type, conformity and length, soundness, handle, colour, character, density, evenness, yield and quality. The Vellus Aureum Trophy then takes it even further, judging wool that are finer than 13.9 microns. Guests were joined by some big names during the evening. Australian movie star, Chris Hemsworth (who's now based in Hollywood), Korean-American actor, Daniel Henney and Beijing-born, Hong Kong-based actor-singer, Leon Lai all made appearances to commemorate the important milestone. No stranger to dressing up, the trio certainly embodied the spirit of impeccable style which Ermenegildo Zegna champions. While Hemsworth wore an Ermenegildo Zegna three-piece suit ensemble from the Australian Celebration Collection, Lai and Henney chose a two-piece and double-breasted suit respectively, both from the label's Autumn/Winter 2013 collection. Related Story: |
| Posted: 08 May 2013 04:53 PM PDT TO have a better understanding of the type of wool Ermenegildo Zegna uses, media members were brought on a farm tour of Armidale in the New South Wales region of Australia. There, within this nucleus that hundreds of Australian wool growers call home, we had the opportunity of witnessing firsthand the process of which wool is grown. From the history of wool growing in Australia, right up to the intricacies of shearing process and beyond, it proved to be an eye-opener. It also helped to make us appreciate all the hard work that goes into producing superfine Merino fleeces. While it only takes one-third of a particular sheep's wool to make an Ermenegildo Zegna suit, the effort to bring about such fine quality of wool is nothing to be taken lightly. It should also be noted that a Zegna suit is made only of the finest parts of the Merino sheep. The fleece from the sides and shoulders are chosen for its superior quality and only these are taken into consideration when the label purchases the superfine wool it requires for suiting. rIt is this connection – one that defines the link between the dusty farm roads and the sleek runway – that Ermenegildo Zegna has always sought to remember, as the wool produced by the wool growers build the foundation of the fashion we celebrate. Related Story: |
| Posted: 09 May 2013 03:53 AM PDT Zara is back with a new collection and it's a commendable one for Spring. WITH spanking new refurbished stores in Suria KLCC, Kuala Lumpur, popular Spanish brand Zara is back with a bang. Both the Women's and Men's stores got the makeover treatment. Now it's easier to shop because each of the sub-collections has its own space and so it's more systematic. What has also received a fresh look is Zara's fashion; their Spring/Summer 2013 collection is vibrant and bright with some colours even doing the acid trip route. Both the women's and the men's collections feature a bright light orange that is the colour of the season. Add to that bright apple green, blue and red. Of course, we can't do without our usual blacks and whites, and the shades in between and some earthy nude shades. For this writer, the most welcome theme is the use of ethnic prints, especially with the men's collections. The brand has referenced some tribal motifs from countries across the region including the seldom used Laotian-inspired prints. What's impressive is that they look fashionable and trendy. The ethnic print detailing is used on many of the items – nice little touches on cuffs, collars and even on pockets. There are two-tone strips, different colour buttons, brocade-work, sleeve patches and stitchwork details on many of the clothes, both men and women. This is a collection that pays as much time and detail to the men. For women, there are the basics that one cannot do without. The collection is enhanced by more luxurious fabrics for those that want a more sophisticated look. Meanwhile, sporty looks for men feature shorts that play a key role this season. The office wear range offers shirts and suits that are more structured while military and sporty jackets make a comeback. The ladies have lots of accessories to play around with and shoes including gladiator heels come in solid colours. To make a quirky statement, one can pair feminine dresses with sporty shoes. – S.S.Yoga For the women's collection, prices range from RM79.90 to RM999 with the accessories going for RM49.90 to RM599. The men's range is from RM119.90 to RM999 with accessories from RM59.90 to RM599. Available at all Zara stores in the Klang Valley. |
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