The Accademia dei Maestri (Academy of Masters), a project born from the Ermenegildo Zegna Group’s passion for excellence, is dedicated to preserving the unique and interdisciplinary expertise that is the foundation of Italy’s tradition of “beauty done well” by entrusting the Maestri with passing on century-old knowledge to future generations.
Milan – Since its foundation, the Ermenegildo Zegna Group has invested in talent, safeguarding and passing down invaluable knowledge across its various functions. The Accademia dei Maestri, the Group’s internal training academy, is born from that commitment to preserving unique, time-honored expertise and an unending passion for excellence. With the appointment of the very first class of Masters, the Accademia brings this century-old tradition to life through a true school that will carry on Italian mastery.
By focusing on the development of cross-disciplinary skills, the Accademia encourages knowledge-sharing through tailored, hands-on, and interdisciplinary training programs. The goal is to further enhance mastery across different fields and foster dialogue between generations.
“Fostering shared knowledge and investing in talent have always been part of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group’s DNA and strategic vision,” said Gildo Zegna, Chairman and CEO of the Group. “With this initiative, we celebrate our first Masters—extraordinary talents who will not only be tasked with handing down a unique legacy, but also contributing to the continued growth of Made in Italy.”
Today marks the appointment of the first 20 Maestri from among the Group’s leading employees—chosen to be further trained and carry forward their unique knowledge with skill, passion, and an innovative mindset. Through continuous education that blends tradition and innovation across every field and discipline, these Maestri will become the future custodians and promoters of the Group’s core values: the pursuit of excellence and a drive for innovation. As the central figures of the Accademia, the Maestri will be entrusted with expertise across the following areas (Skill Factories):
- Mastery of Craft & Textile – Eleveting artisanal fabric and textile manufacturing
- Mastery of Design & Product Development – Driving sustainable innovation in creativity and product development
- Mastery of Experience & Delight – Redefine personalized client experiences
- Mastery of Business Excellence – Implementing strategies for operational and creative leadership
Over the years, the Accademia will expand its reach, continuing to cultivate and celebrate the artistry, expertise, and innovation that define Italian excellence. By integrating tradition with modernity, the initiative will ensure that the Group’s core skills across craftsmanship, sustainability, business strategy, and client engagement are carried forward for generations to come.
With the Accademia dei Maestri, Ermenegildo Zegna Group reaffirms its commitment to shaping the future while honoring the past, preserving Italy’s unmatched legacy of mastery, creativity, and innovation.
Accademia Dei Maestri
Crafting Tomorrow’s Excellence
About Ermenegildo Zegna Group
Founded in 1910 in Trivero, Italy, the Ermenegildo Zegna Group (NYSE:ZGN) is a global luxury company with a leading position in the high-end menswear business. Through its three complementary brands, the Group reaches a wide range of communities and market segments across the high-end fashion industry, from ZEGNA’s timeless luxury to the modern tailoring of Thom Browne, to luxury glamour with TOM FORD FASHION. The Ermenegildo Zegna Group is internationally recognized for its unique Filiera, owned and controlled by the Group, which is made up of the finest Italian textile producers fully integrated with unique luxury manufacturing capabilities, to ensure superior excellence, quality and innovation capacity. The Ermenegildo Zegna Group has more than 7,000 employees and recorded revenues of €1.9 billion in 2023.
Contacts
Paola Durante, Chief of External Relations
Clementina Tito, Head of Corporate Communication