Ermenegildo Zegna: Stefano Pilati is leaving

By

Dominique Muret

Published
Feb 3, 2016

A game of musical chairs has begun again among luxury fashion labels. Following the announcement of Alessandro Sartori's resignation from Berluti, after five years of service, and subsequently that of Brendan Mullane, who was appointed three and a half years ago as first creative director in the history of Brioni, it is now the turn of Stefano Pilati, Head of Design at Ermenegildo Zegna Couture, another major menswear label, to head for the door.

The news was reported first by FashionMag.com on Tuesday, and has now been confirmed by the Italian luxury group in a press release. Zegna stated that the Autumn/Winter 2016-17 collection presented on 16th January in Milan was "the last show by Stefano Pilati for the group."

The former Saint Laurent creative director joined the Piedmont company in 2013, to take charge of Ermenegildo Zegna's luxury couture line and to relaunch Agnona, the group's womenswear brand, which he then left last July.

In the press release, Stefano Pilati stated he believes he has reached the objectives that were set to him, in the words of the group's Board Chairman Gildo Zegna: "to strengthen Zegna's presence in the fashion world and make its fashion show a benchmark in the menswear fashion week." "I can now concentrate on other projects I had put aside," stated the designer without giving more details, the best way to keep rumours simmering.

Some see Stefano Pilati succeed Alber Elbaz at Lanvin, while Alessandro Sartori could take Pilati's place at Zegna. After all, this would be a return home for Sartori, who engineered the launch of ZZegna, the group's youth line.