by D. T. Max
First published 2010
Angelo Zegna abandons his watchmaker's bench to establish a wool mill in nineteenth-century Italy. Among his ten children, youngest son Ermenegildo emerges as the heir who will reshape their modest family enterprise. Born in 1892, Ermenegildo inherits more than machinery and fabric. He takes control of a business that will grow into Italy's most recognizable luxury menswear empire. The novel follows the Zegna family through a century of Italian history as they build their company from a small mill into an international fashion powerhouse. Ermenegildo navigates the challenges of expanding beyond Italy's borders while maintaining the craftsmanship that defines their brand. The story captures how one family's dedication to quality fabrics and tailoring creates a legacy that spans generations. At its heart, this is a tale about tradition and innovation, showing how the Zegnas balance preserving their Italian heritage with meeting the demands of global luxury markets.
Genres: historical-fiction, 20th-century, business, 21st-century, italian-literature, fashion
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: family-legacy, tradition-vs-innovation
Setting: Italy
Period: 19th-century, 20th-century
352 pages · Hardcover · Skira