ANGELO ZEGNA

“MY CHILDHOOD BETWEEN PLAYS AND FABRICS”

Angelo Zegna, the patriarch, is 86 years old and live in Switzerland.

Angelo Zegna is the son of the founder Ermenegildo, he started the role of entrepreneur since he was a kid.

“When I was 12 I was in the factory.

During the summer my brother Aldo and I used to work half a day and then go playing in the woods of Trivero.

Daddy had strict rules: first of all the duty and then the amusement, but he liked also foreign languages and sport.

In the factory they did not refrain to touch those wool ribbons just combed, wounded on the big rolls.

I have always conceived wool as an living material, integrating part of our life and with no doubts my father contributed to fix it in our heart and head.

At home he used to speak about work, we used to play but were not indifferent to his stories.

The fabrics belong to our family’s DNA.

After the Degree in Economy and Trade my daddy assigned the commercial department to myself, while Aldo, once finished the Polytechnic followed the chain: from the weaving to the relationships with the tailors.

We lived with the luggage in our hand: the first market was the North America, where there were Italian tailors emigrated who created, with our fabrics, custom –made suits.

Famous personalities visited the laboratory:

Luigi Einaudi, who encouraged my father to continue the project of the Zegna Panoramic road connecting Ribello Mount to the Cervo Valley.

Maria José, as guest in a chalet built on purpose.

I remember also Mussolini and Starace visit”.