Ermenegildo Zegna 2008

On 11th March 2008 Zegna opened the first US flagship boutique on 9,200 square feet over 3 floors designed by Peter Marino at 663 Fifth Avenue in New York.

Architect Peter Marino, inspired by Zegna's fabrics

World-renowned architect Peter Marino designed a global concept that integrates Zegna's fabric heritage. Marino was inspired by the fabrics created at Zegna’s eponymous wool mill in Trivero, Italy for nearly one hundred years. The tactile adventure in-store begins with metallic strands in the windows and on the staircase; the texture created resembles the textile composition of warp crossing weft, transforming raw fibres into fabrics. Stucco decorates the passages between the floors inspired by Zegna’s CashCo fabric, a corduroy blend of cashmere and cotton. Traversing from floor to wall, the golden yellow radica marble stripe refers to the selvage on Zegna fabrics, the signature line at the edge of bolts of fabric to guarantee authenticity.

“Ermenegildo Zegna is a historic brand, known for the unrivalled quality of its woven textiles. I used this imagery throughout the design. The action of the weaving machines heavily influenced me in intertwining stainless steel threads throughout. The materials and colours, sky blue and alpine green stones, come from Zegna's strong commitment to nature evident in their OASI in Northern Italy. The entire compartmentalization of products, each with their own shade of wood, makes up one whole House of Zegna, a brand that is a rising star in today's world of luxury." Peter Marino

The floor to ceiling height central stairwell is filled with constantly changing colours. This ever changing environmental mural depicts the four seasons as in Oasi Zegna, to remind customers of the beauty of nature and Zegna’s environmental commitment. This nod to nature is a core theme of the store, from the masculine yet natural color palette to the sourcing of sustainable stones and woods.

The New York Global Store concept is the second of 3, preceding the Milan, Montenapoleone opening in October 2007 and followed by Shinjuku, Tokyo in early 2009.

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The Ermenegildo Zegna Group was founded in 1910 in Trivero, a small town in the Biella Alps by Ermenegildo Zegna. Ermenegildo Zegna is still a “family business” and is managed by the fourth generation of the family: Paolo as Chairman, Ermenegildo as CEO, Anna, Benedetta, Laura and Renata Zegna. Today Zegna is a world leader in luxury men's clothing with over 500 stores in 64 countries.

Peter Marino is the principal of Peter Marino Architect, the internationally acclaimed architecture firm founded in New York City in 1978. Peter Marino has received numerous architecture and design awards and was elevated to the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects in 2006.

photo: (c) Paul Warchol