Stefano Pilati Leaving Ermenegildo Zegna

Ermenegildo Zegna's fall 2016 collection debuted last month in Milan to much acclaim. Little did we know, it would be Stefano Pilati's finale as head of design at Ermenegildo Zegna Couture.

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The Ermenegildo Zegna Group announced that Pilati is bowing out of his position with the fashion house. The designer released a statement regarding his exit:

"I have given much consideration to this decision and after thoughtful conversations with Gildo Zegna, we have reached the conclusion that the mission he entrusted me with had been fulfilled. I now wish to focus on other projects that I had put aside in order to achieve our common goals with Zegna Couture. It has been an honor to work with this extraordinary family company that puts quality, craftsmanship and excellence at the center of their business. I want to thank everyone at the Zegna Group and especially Gildo Zegna who has given me outstanding support and will remain a friend and a mentor."

Zegna shared Pilati's sense of closure. The CEO of the Zegna Group also released a statement:

"I want to thank Stefano for his contribution to Ermenegildo Zegna. We wanted to develop a strong point of view in fashion as well as style, and for Zegna to be a show not to be missed in Milan. We have reached this objective faster than expected. As we move on to write new chapters in Zegna's development, I wish Stefano well for his future endeavours."

A successor has yet to be named, but now that designers Raf Simons, Alber Elbaz, and Hedi Slimane are all free from their duties (at Dior, Lanvin, and Saint Laurent, respectively), let the game of fashion musical chairs begin.