Zegna-De Rigo partnership in the eyewear business

Ennio De Rigo, Chairman and Ceo of De Rigo, and Ermenegildo Zegna, Ceo of the Zegna Group, signed an agreement granting a world-wide license to De Rigo for the development, production and distribution of an Ermenegildo Zegna men's eyewear and sunglasses line.

The new Ermenegildo Zegna eyewear line, which will feature exclusive design enhanced by original combinations of traditional and innovative materials, will be presented and sold starting in the fall of 2005.

'We believe that the agreement with the Ermenegildo Zegna Group, one of the world's most famous and appreciated luxury menswear brands, significantly enriches our designer portfolio and strengthens our presence in a particularly interesting market segment with high added value', said Ennio De Rigo. 'I am also convinced that this partnership will help promote Italian design excellence around the world'.

'We chose De Rigo as our partner due to its uniqueness and expertise in the eyewear sector', declared Ermenegildo Zegna. 'This new diversification project has a twofold goal: to significantly contribute to the economic growth of the Group by further expanding our accessories business, and to complete the Zegna lifestyle concept through a coherent brand extension strategy, combining the excellence and tradition of its products with the current trends and sophisticated and cosmopolitan tastes of Zegna customers'.