This Zegna x The Elder Statesman Collab Gets All the Michelin Stars

In any field, a new collaboration sparks interest for followers, especially if they are people who you wouldn’t normally place together. Sometimes pairings yield an unpleasant outcome but sometimes, by chance, they result in magic. Such is the collaboration between Alessandro Sartori of Zegna and Greg Chait of The Elder Statesman. The century-old fine suits maker from Italy and the Southern California legend who deals with tie-dyed cashmere sweaters is one such duo that has given an extraordinary surprise with this collaboration.

Mutual Inclination

There is one common link between the two men: their love for yarn. This was further facilitated by the fact that they looked for a collaboration with a meaning that would make them happy while working on it. So, they chose cashmere yarn for this collection. Greg Chait reveals that even though his business focuses on hand dyeing, hand-looming, and weaving, yarn has always occupied a very special place in his life. This led to him trying to learn how to spin yarn by hand, which is the unsung hero of essentially every item of clothing. Sartori adds that he believed in the potential of knit becoming the dominant media of the future. This would involve not only sweaters but also clothes usually made through weaving, from suits to jackets.

The Way Forward for Zegna

In the recent past, Zegna has steered its fashion shows towards more knit pieces. One of the stand-out pieces includes the button-downs that have cashmere with a texture that’s smooth on the inside but with a raggedy appearance outside. This is not only in line with the aesthetic but also makes the material protected and durable. So, these pieces can be a staple for families to hand down through generations as a kind of heirloom. The collaboration also sees the classic The Elder Statesman colors showcasing their Venetian Beach origins.