Z Zegna’s new ambassador is tennis star Alexander Zverev

By

Godfrey Deeny

Published
Jun 12, 2018

Think of it as the Triple Z of fashion.
 
Before a crowded audience inside its tennis court style stand in Pitti 94, Z Zegna on Tuesday revealed its first ever ambassador – handsome tennis star Alexander Zverev.

“The thing is I never know where I am going to be from one day to another. Because I spend my life playing knock out competitions, so these clothes are really exactly what I need,” explained the lanky yet dashing German tennis man.
 
The collection is very much tennis and athletic focused, though blended with streetwear and fine tailoring. Moreover, the Z Zegna collection is largely based on the house’s revolutionary Techmerino (or TM) fabric, which it unveiled last year but has now extended into different apparel categories.

Snazzy blood orange TM suits with snug blazers and track pants with side pockets; or lime green logo leggings paired with techy TM shorts and matching tennis champ jackets; neat cobalt-hued jerkins with bold graphic sweatpants.
 
“We have been speaking for quite a few months, getting Alexander’s input and creating something new in fashion,” said Alessandro Sartori, creative director of this giant Italian menswear house.
 
“What is nice is that he is more than an ambassador. We can tell many stories with Sasha; him wearing the clothes while he travels and works. And looking simply great in fashion photo shoots,” added Sartori of Zverev, who posed before a giant wall featuring a competition scoreboard.
 
Currently ranked number three in the world and the youngest player in the ATP top 20, Zverev is a German born in Hamburg of Russian parents.
 
“Z Zegna is an amazing brand and I really enjoyed collaborating with Alessandro. Hopefully I will be with Zegna for a very long time. This project opens up so many opportunities,” said Zverev
 
The heart of the matter remains Tech Merino – a rather magical wool fiber, which now represents 30% of Z Zegna sales.
 
“Before we had only a Tecmerino suit, now we have expanded that to include outerwear, shoes, sweatshirts and sweaters that you can just throw in your washing machine. You don’t even need to iron them!’ It’s a revolution in technical fibers, but still pure wool,” insisted Sartori.
 
Next up, Sartori will stage the house’s men’s couture collection Ermenegildo Zegna in Segrate. It’s the famed headquarters of the Italian publisher Mondadori, designed by the great Oscar Niemeyer, close to Milan’s airport Linate.