How Ermenegildo Zegna controls his entire supply chain

Milan, Trivero Those who visit Italian entrepreneurs often find jerseys on the office walls: Juventus Turin, Inter Milan, AS Roma. They show visitors where the heart of football beats, a commitment to the city, to home. A jersey from Real Madrid, the Spanish record champions, hangs next to black-and-white photos and old newspaper front pages at Ermenegildo Zegna’s.

Zegna, CEO and Chairman of the Milan-based fashion brand of the same name, entered into a partnership with the club this year. “With all due respect to the Italian and German teams,” he says. But Real Madrid is the “soccer history” and the “king of the Champions League”. And that’s exactly where, the 67-year-old makes it clear, that he sees himself and his company: in the top division.