Retailoring the modern man

LUXURY MENSWEAR LABEL ERMENEGILDO ZEGNA continues to challenge preconceived notions of masculinity and mens wear with its latest Fall/Winter 2021 collection. Its latest looks reconsider modern men's clothes in direct response to how they live, work, play and lounge today.

"The way that modern men dress, their needs and habits have been changing considerably over the past year," says artistic director Alessandro Sartori. "Customers are looking for a different style as they turn to more fluid silhouettes and multifunctional yet comfortable outfits. Therefore, clothes have to transition seamlessly between indoor and outdoor to reflect the way we behave and feel."

As borders between home and office continue to blur because of the pandemic, Zegna is taking the opportunity to rethink our notions of menswear through its (RESET) #WhatMakeAMan campaign. Its new wardrobe signals a step away from strict formality, while still maintaining the refinement and precision tailoring the 110-year-old atelier is famous for.

"To me, this was the perfect time to rethink what is possible, to reconsider what really matters and to rebalance style while we are called to answer to changing times," says Sartori. "A new aesthetic is needed: fluid, ageless, adaptable, where comfort matches perfectly with style."

The collection focuses on Zegna's fabric expertise with a new generation of jersey knitting techniques and soft fabrics. Its signature piece is the overshirt, a casual and versatile alternative to the blazer. It can be worn indoor or outdoors, day or night, transcending dress codes and occasions.

The overshirt combines the functional with the sartorial, and is available in a range of fabrics from linen and wool to cashmere and Techmerino, all presented in a neutral palette for maximum versatility.

NEW CAMPAIGN FACES

Meanwhile, Zegna's Fall/Winter 2021 campaign features five inspiring individuals that embody the spirit of modernity, adaptability and reinvention.

They comprise two models, a dancer, a fashion buyer and a photographer, all of whom challenge the viewer to reconsider the idea of modern masculinity and reaffirm the values that are relevant today.

Among them is dancer Mickael Lafon, who entered the Paris Opera Ballet School at 9-years-old and joined the Corps de Ballet in 2007. After fracturing his knee in a car accident, Lafon endured months of hospitalisation and years of rehabilitation.

But he managed to turn his experience into a transformative one, focusing on rehabilitation and private coaching, working personally with dancers, actors, and athletes.

Another face of the campaign is Jon Bronxl, a photographer and visual artist born in Ghana and raised in Italy.

Bronxl founded The Good Neighborhood Collective where local young artists create content to inspire unity among young African-descended Italians as well as the entire black youth community in Italy.

The third campaign personality is Japanese model and DJ Yura Nakano. Born in Japan, Nakano began deejaying during his high school years, bringing an uptempo anime style to his sets by mixing electronica and rock with classical Japanese cartoon sounds. The fourth is Ingo Sliwinski, a fashion buyer in Germany, who tries to give back to society by donating used clothes and buying and distributing groceries to the homeless.

The fifth and final personality is model Margaret Joy Maurer, whose striking androgynous looks have graced many magazine covers. Having been homeschooled in New York, Maurer cherishes her freedom and sense of adventure: "Sometimes you have to let your life scare you. If you never struggle you never learn and grow... I believe my job (as a model) is to bring to life the idea from the minds of all the different creatives I have worked with."

The new campaign faces are a departure from the well-known figures of past campaigns such as two-time Oscar-winning actor Mahershala Ali and musician Gabriel Kane Day-Lewis (son of acclaimed actors Daniel Day-Lewis and Isabelle Adjani) - suggesting that stylish, inspirational figures exist in all levels of society.