What does it mean to be a man today? It’s a question with no definite answer since masculinity, and its ethos, is constantly in flux depending on the societal norms of the day. “The debate on masculinity is very heartfelt and has a tremendous impact on society,” says Gildo Zegna, CEO of Ermenegildo Zegna, once said in an interview. “To do this, when society is looking at masculinity, we need to not only be part of the conversation, but lead it.”
Since 2019, Ermenegildo Zegna has used its influential platform to redefine a man’s identity. The Italian menswear brand is continuing the conversation in its autumn/winter 2021 collection. Artistic director Alessandro Sartori has eschewed young male models in favour of diverse faces, including the androgynously styled female model Maggie Maurer, to front the campaign. You can watch the video below, which also features senior model Ingo Sliwinski alongside Jon Bronxl and Yura Nakano.
Of course, Ermenegildo Zegna is a fashion maison at its core and Sartori has used this season to continue blending the boundaries between home, work and leisure. The heart of this season’s collection is The New Jacket, Sartori’s alternative take on the usual sports blazer.
It’s a sign of a fashion house confident in the quality of its products (it is Ermenegildo Zegna, after all) and choosing to use its platform to instigate debate around important issues such as sustainabilityand social issues.
What makes a man? The answer is up to you. But we’re inclined to have that conversation while wearing Sartori’s latest creations for Ermenegildo Zegna.
