When two cashmere-oriented collaborators unite, the result is an assemblage of wonder.
The past decade has been metamorphic for ZEGNA. As an early adopter in the street-meets-luxury collaboration sphere, the house partnered with Jerry Lorenzo’s Fear Of God — a move that signposted a coming-of-age for the historic label. To follow was a major brand overhaul, one that saw the century-old Italian house shedding Ermenegildo from its name, in pursuit of an alignment with a younger demographic.
In its second collaborative effort, ZEGNA has opted to work with a brand with an as-reputable impetus for craftmanship. If ZEGNA’s prior partnership with Fear Of God saw an astute following of the fashion house’s older codes — in pared-down palettes and simplified designs — The Elder Statesman’s contribution reflects a 180-degree directional shift. A SoCal label with a penchant for “pervading spontaneity”, best seen in vibrant colours and kooky patterns that temper its brand identity, sharing common ground with the house for a sense of cashmere camaraderie. Both collaborators flex a mean, vertical production process, and have found a way to weave in premium materials into discernable branding.
The resultant collection exudes a semblance of liberty and a what if result of working with your “eccentric cousin” (an atypical term used by Californian brand’s Founder and CEO, Greg Chait to describe the workflow). Like a homecoming of sorts, the outcome is a refreshing take on ZEGNA’s industry-revered textiles. While creative leeway was granted to The Elder Statesman’s in-house team of knitters, hand dyers and embroiders, the collection still honours ZEGNA’s codes of affluent, cultured dressing. Ultimately, the collection possesses an invigorating sense of nuanced levity, introduced to precise cuts and fits, never stepping too far away from the shared ethos of luxuriant fabrication.
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