The Ermenegildo Zegna Group acquires the majority of Achill, an Australian Superfine wool farm in New England, thereby expanding its vertical supply chain
In a press conference held in Sydney, Paolo Zegna, Chairman of the Zegna Group, the world’s leading luxury menswear brand, announced the acquisition of the Achill wool farm, an Australian property where Merino sheep are produced. Ermenegildo Zegna has been using fine Australian wools to develop its premium-quality fabrics for over 100 years. The purchase represents a decisive step for the company, as Zegna has now taken direct responsibility for the production phase of one of its primary raw materials thereby consolidating its complete verticalization strategy and reconfirming its longstanding support of the wool industry. With a historically strong focus on research aimed at improving the natural characteristics of its products, Zegna now has a greater opportunity to exchange ideas directly with the woolgrowers.
Zegna’s entrance in the wool growing business is happening alongside sixth-generation woolgrower and young entrepreneur, Charlie Coventry (42 years old), within a context of excellence. The Achill is located in New England, a particular area in New South Wales known for exceptional wool style, high tensile strength and low vegetable matter. The current herd of the property is around 12,500 sheep and 1,000 cattle are raised in the open and according to modern grazing practices.
A known pioneer in the industry and creator of the world’s finest fabrics, Zegna believed in the importance of promoting and protecting fine wool during a time in which the industry was looking to coarser wools that could be produced in larger quantities. Over the years, Zegna has continued toencourage breeders to evolve the fineness and excellence of multi-faceted wool fibers and in 2013 the company celebrated, in Sydney, the 50th Anniversary of the Ermenegildo Zegna Extrafine Wool Trophy, an annual event which has awarded and rewarded the Australian woolgrowers’ commitment to quality since 1963. Today, the Zegna Group transforms and consumes the equivalent of 1.5 million kg per year of the highest grade wool available after touching, evaluating and testing each bale lot for fineness, quality and staple strength among other parameters.
“It is a great source of pride to have officially entered the world of woolgrowing as a producer,” says Paolo Zegna, Chairman of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group. “The opportunity to better understand the daily work of the graziers, sharing the culture and the philosophy of quality and the technical side of this magnificent fiber is quite exciting. Our choice to acquire a wool property in Australia underscores the Group’s faith in promoting a land and fiber which have played a crucial role in our history and our heritage. By sharing supporting the work of a young, talented farmer, we have a unique and sizeable opportunity to faithfully look at the future of an industry which we want to preserve and protect for future generations.
The decision to strengthen its bond with Australian woolgrowers by becoming one of their peers is strategically important for the company and reflects Zegna’s pledge to the survival and long term viability of fine wool growing.
No comments:
Post a Comment