Ermenegildo Zegna opens newly renovated London store and debuts bespoke shoes

Ermenegildo Zegna has opened last week its renovated and enlarged flagship store in London. Designed by Peter Marino, the newly reopened Zegna store covers 6,512 square feet. Zegna marked the occasion debuting its first ever Bespoke Shoe Collection, Alessandro Sartori’s first project as artistic director for the brand.

The shoes are made by British shoemakers Gaziano & Girling. The Zegna shoes, which take more than six months to make, cost about 5,000 pounds, or $6,210, for a pair and come in nine styles, including a double monk, a dress oxford and a jodhpur boot.

The new space consists of two separate buildings that have been knocked together over four floors. A Fifties-style wood bar with marquetry details and teal leather stools has been installed upstairs, as has the tapestry.

The refurbishment took 20 months and was eco-driven. There are solar panels on the roof and LED lighting that doesn’t give off any heat. All of the wood — mahogany, oak, rose and ash — has been certified by the Forest Stewardship Council.

The building’s façade has been done in red and gray marble and red brick, a nod to the original 19th century design. Metal strands have been used in the two front windows representing the warp and weft of fabric, while architectural sheep heads adorn the windows.

The store features the brand’s full range, including sportswear and accessories, formal wear, couture and made-to-measure. The bespoke shoes have their own separate area downstairs.

Gildo Zegna said he considers this year to be a transitional one in terms of business as he cleaned house and began enacting his new strategy. He’s also dealing with all of the macro changes that will no doubt impact the business.

The company plans a similar major refurbishment for its global concept store in Dubai mid-2017.

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