“Tom Ford is glamour, Thom Browne is fashion, and Zegna I think, is more than luxury,” explains Ermenegildo ‘Gildo’ Zegna. He is chairman and chief executive of the gentleman’s outfitter Zegna and its parent company, the Ermenegildo Zegna Group.
Gildo led the group's purchases of the two American fashion houses: Thom Browne in August 2018 and Tom Ford in April 2023. To outsiders, grouping the trio of brands looks odd – bizarre almost – but Gildo is adamant the three are natural stable mates. “It's a luxury combination,” he says. “One helps the other, and I think this is very important for the luxury customer. This is all authentic, luxury and complementary.”
Thom Browne brings its high-fashion take on tailoring to the group, while Tom Ford is known for its megawatt glamour. Add to this Zegna's reputation for immaculate high-end menswear, and it becomes a multifaceted exploration of quality, originality and clarity of identity.
Ford and Browne will also bring something that Zegna lacks – womenswear. Both have well-established women’s lines and the hope is that this will lure a new customer base. Such thinking is part of Gildo's wider plan. “Each brand has a strong founder,” he explains. “I can lead in terms of value and long-term vision, but each is unique for its own sake, so we need to keep that legacy, that authenticity. DNA is key.”
The recent signing of Haider Ackermann to lead Tom Ford is another key element. “We are very happy indeed because I think that he can bring a new dimension to the brand. It's going to be a new chapter for Tom Ford.”
Gildo is the third generation to lead the company founded by his grandfather Ermenegildo Zegna – after whom he is named – in Piedmont, Italy in 1910. Today he is tasked with building a company on three fronts while retaining the foundational concept of respect, responsibility and uncompromising quality.
“We have our own textile platform, which I think is fantastic, and it is probably the best way to show that we take you from sheep to shop,” explains Gildo. The entire process is under the company's control, or “fully vertically integrated” as he described it.
“It is a headache, and it is costly, but we create innovation out of that, which becomes a very strong advantage not only for Zegna but for the other two brands. We buy the wool from our farm, cut, twist and finish the wool, and make our own clothing.
“You have to think slow and then act fast. This is the great thing about silent luxury. Before you get something out, you think twice. I mean, to get a shoe or knit to market, it's over two years of testing, checking and making sure it performs.”
Since it began in the early 1900s, Zegna has found that its customers' needs have shifted. Naturally, Zegna has evolved, too. A few decades ago, cut-to-perfection tailored suits and the finest wools money could buy were the clients' demands. Today, customers are more likely to favour a more casual wardrobe, better suited to a mobile lifestyle.
The farm-to-fashion house approach has helped Zegna sustain this change over time. Now, it focuses on high-end leisurewear such as lightweight cashmere crew neck jumpers, joggers made from its superfine 15milmil15 wool (named for being 15.2 microns in diameter), and triple-stitched deer skin trainers. All aimed at a man who demands comfort and quality whether on board a yacht, in the boardroom or lunching in St Tropez.
Part of this evolution also saw the group buying up other companies such as a silk weaving specialist Tessitura di Novara in 2009, and an Australian sheep farm in 2014 that produces world-class wool. “My grandfather created what they call the finest thread in the world,” he explains.
Named after the farm and flock that Zegna owns, Achillfarm wool is lightweight and fine, with one feature that Gildo clearly loves to repeat. “From one kilogram of wool you can get 120 kilometres of yarn,” he explains. “That's the distance from Milan to Trivero.”
Trivero, Piedmont is where the Ermenegildo Zegna house was founded over a century ago. Started as a rival of British wools of the day, Zegna senior understood decades before others that 'made in Italy' should be a marker of quality.
A true visionary, he also instinctively understood the benefits of looking after his workers. After building a mill and factory in the Piedmont hills, he built a community featuring a school, gym, pool and hospital. He also bought a large swath of land around the factory to be replanted with half a million trees, rhododendrons and other flowers in what today would be called rewilding. Now open to the public, it has become a haven for wildlife.
“It has become, you know, a kind of a national park. It's 100 square kilometres. It's 30 times the size of Central Park, New York just to give you the idea.”
Called Oasi Zegna, this land and the family house that stands within it are deeply symbolic for the family and emblematic of their grandfather's mindset.
“Oasi Zegna is our road to the future,” says Gildo. “We have the most beautiful asset of what we consider luxury. Because luxury is silence; luxury is the environment; luxury is to be on your own and re-energise. And this is the principle of sustainability.
“My grandfather was a visionary and his thinking was green and philanthropic; giving back and caring for the people working for him. These were the principles we have inherited. This is really where it all started and that's where our values come from.”
Such values help explain why Zegna has enjoyed a presence in the UAE since 2000. “The Gulf countries are really becoming the core for luxury. It used to be Hong Kong, but I think that the new world is here, and there is an energy here which is hard to find anywhere else.”
Twenty-five years of dressing men in this region has also gifted Zegna an understanding of how to create clothes that will not shift or bubble in the extreme humidity and heat. “You know, we sell very expensive clothes and we want to make sure that we guarantee only the best.”
How to apply for a drone permit
- Individuals must register on UAE Drone app or website using their UAE Pass
- Add all their personal details, including name, nationality, passport number, Emiratis ID, email and phone number
- Upload the training certificate from a centre accredited by the GCAA
- Submit their request
What are the regulations?
- Fly it within visual line of sight
- Never over populated areas
- Ensure maximum flying height of 400 feet (122 metres) above ground level is not crossed
- Users must avoid flying over restricted areas listed on the UAE Drone app
- Only fly the drone during the day, and never at night
- Should have a live feed of the drone flight
- Drones must weigh 5 kg or less
Student Of The Year 2
Director: Punit Malhotra
Stars: Tiger Shroff, Tara Sutaria, Ananya Pandey, Aditya Seal
1.5 stars
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 261hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
Transmission: 9-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 6.9L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh117,059
More on Quran memorisation:
UAE%20Warriors%2033%20Results
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COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Essentials
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Malaysia Airlines all fly direct from the UAE to Kuala Lumpur and on to Penang from about Dh2,300 return, including taxes.
Where to stay
In Kuala Lumpur, Element is a recently opened, futuristic hotel high up in a Norman Foster-designed skyscraper. Rooms cost from Dh400 per night, including taxes. Hotel Stripes, also in KL, is a great value design hotel, with an infinity rooftop pool. Rooms cost from Dh310, including taxes.
In Penang, Ren i Tang is a boutique b&b in what was once an ancient Chinese Medicine Hall in the centre of Little India. Rooms cost from Dh220, including taxes.
23 Love Lane in Penang is a luxury boutique heritage hotel in a converted mansion, with private tropical gardens. Rooms cost from Dh400, including taxes.
In Langkawi, Temple Tree is a unique architectural villa hotel consisting of antique houses from all across Malaysia. Rooms cost from Dh350, including taxes.
10 tips for entry-level job seekers
- Have an up-to-date, professional LinkedIn profile. If you don’t have a LinkedIn account, set one up today. Avoid poor-quality profile pictures with distracting backgrounds. Include a professional summary and begin to grow your network.
- Keep track of the job trends in your sector through the news. Apply for job alerts at your dream organisations and the types of jobs you want – LinkedIn uses AI to share similar relevant jobs based on your selections.
- Double check that you’ve highlighted relevant skills on your resume and LinkedIn profile.
- For most entry-level jobs, your resume will first be filtered by an applicant tracking system for keywords. Look closely at the description of the job you are applying for and mirror the language as much as possible (while being honest and accurate about your skills and experience).
- Keep your CV professional and in a simple format – make sure you tailor your cover letter and application to the company and role.
- Go online and look for details on job specifications for your target position. Make a list of skills required and set yourself some learning goals to tick off all the necessary skills one by one.
- Don’t be afraid to reach outside your immediate friends and family to other acquaintances and let them know you are looking for new opportunities.
- Make sure you’ve set your LinkedIn profile to signal that you are “open to opportunities”. Also be sure to use LinkedIn to search for people who are still actively hiring by searching for those that have the headline “I’m hiring” or “We’re hiring” in their profile.
- Prepare for online interviews using mock interview tools. Even before landing interviews, it can be useful to start practising.
- Be professional and patient. Always be professional with whoever you are interacting with throughout your search process, this will be remembered. You need to be patient, dedicated and not give up on your search. Candidates need to make sure they are following up appropriately for roles they have applied.
Arda Atalay, head of Mena private sector at LinkedIn Talent Solutions, Rudy Bier, managing partner of Kinetic Business Solutions and Ben Kinerman Daltrey, co-founder of KinFitz
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
The specs: 2018 Range Rover Velar R-Dynamic HSE
Price, base / as tested: Dh263,235 / Dh420,000
Engine: 3.0-litre supercharged V6
Power 375hp @ 6,500rpm
Torque: 450Nm @ 3,500rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 9.4L / 100kms
Real estate tokenisation project
Dubai launched the pilot phase of its real estate tokenisation project last month.
The initiative focuses on converting real estate assets into digital tokens recorded on blockchain technology and helps in streamlining the process of buying, selling and investing, the Dubai Land Department said.
Dubai’s real estate tokenisation market is projected to reach Dh60 billion ($16.33 billion) by 2033, representing 7 per cent of the emirate’s total property transactions, according to the DLD.
How to help
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
The Uefa Awards winners
Uefa Men's Player of the Year: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Uefa Women's Player of the Year: Lucy Bronze (Lyon)
Best players of the 2018/19 Uefa Champions League
Goalkeeper: Alisson (Liverpool)
Defender: Virgil van Dijk (Liverpool)
Midfielder: Frenkie de Jong (Ajax)
Forward: Lionel Messi (Barcelona)
Uefa President's Award: Eric Cantona
The years Ramadan fell in May
Despacito's dominance in numbers
Released: 2017
Peak chart position: No.1 in more than 47 countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and Lebanon
Views: 5.3 billion on YouTube
Sales: With 10 million downloads in the US, Despacito became the first Latin single to receive Diamond sales certification
Streams: 1.3 billion combined audio and video by the end of 2017, making it the biggest digital hit of the year.
Awards: 17, including Record of the Year at last year’s prestigious Latin Grammy Awards, as well as five Billboard Music Awards
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Company%20profile
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Defending champions
World Series: South Africa
Women’s World Series: Australia
Gulf Men’s League: Dubai Exiles
Gulf Men’s Social: Mediclinic Barrelhouse Warriors
Gulf Vets: Jebel Ali Dragons Veterans
Gulf Women: Dubai Sports City Eagles
Gulf Under 19: British School Al Khubairat
Gulf Under 19 Girls: Dubai Exiles
UAE National Schools: Al Safa School
International Invitational: Speranza 22
International Vets: Joining Jack
The specs
Engine: 1.4-litre 4-cylinder turbo
Power: 180hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 250Nm at 3,00rpm
Transmission: 5-speed sequential auto
Price: From Dh139,995
On sale: now
F1 The Movie
Starring: Brad Pitt, Damson Idris, Kerry Condon, Javier Bardem
Director: Joseph Kosinski
Rating: 4/5
