Z Zegna unveils new Techmerino

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Jun 14, 2017

He manages one of Italy’s premier garment makers and a leader in textile innovation, and Gildo Zegna has a new technical marvel for fashionable people – Techmerino.
 

“Plenty of people have developed washable polyester or cotton clothes. But this is truly the first washable merino wool. A garment with 17 microns, the finest of wools, with a special finish. It breathes. It is comfortable. And you don’t have to rely on the dry cleaner. I know because we washed this suit yesterday and I am wearing it today!” beams Gildo Zegna, CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna.
 
The 107-year-old company unveiled the high-tech material at the stand of Z Zegna – the brand’s most fashion-forward label.

“There is a lot of energy coming from performance styles. So we themed that this season around the Portofino Regatta, where for 25 years from 1980 we sponsored the yacht races,” said Zegna, pointing to giant screens featuring images of the Maserati racing yacht in the elegant resort, with the crew dressed in Techmerino.
 
One entered past an installation mimicking a rain shower with a half dozen looks mingling racing gear – excellent hooded tunics or soft-down waistcoats -  with cool double-breasted blazers, cut with designer Alessandro Sartori’s legendary precision.
 
Though the stand-out was  trio of Techmerino Wash&Go suits with soft shoulders and patch pockets – which will spark a worldwide trend.
 
“Ale, as ever, did a marvelous project with the pinnacle the Techmerino suit! Which to me is simply incredible!” he insisted, predicting that the future of men’s tailoring will be all about using natural fibers with the latest technology.
 
2016 was not such a good year for Gildo’s business. As reported, the group suffered a 7% sales slump as revenue fell to €1.156 billion.
 
“It was a transitional year. Debuting with Ale’s great shows. But this year we are growing again. Now that the Chinese market is growing again things are good,” he insists.
 
They house has 80 stores in Greater China, which accounts for one third of Zegna’s turnover.
 
“Every time we launch a new project in China we see how quickly their consumers react. Surprisingly, the Chinese consumer is the most reactive in the world. They are younger and extremely curious and want to have fun. Our other markets I find relatively conservative!” he snorts, as the yachts go about behind him.