A sea of orange and black figures formed a “Path Worth Taking” in the Zegna Fall/Winter 2022 runway show that streamed live from Milan. In yet another fashion week limited by Covid-19, Zegna became one of 16 brands to help kick off the festivities on Jan. 14. 

Opening with surreal aerial shots of the Oasi Zegna nature park in Piedmont, Italy and continuing into Milan, Zegna’s show was nothing short of spectacular. After first using the word “phygital,” to describe their SS21 show, Zegna has been a pioneer in the hybrid show model. Using well-directed films and smart camera cuts, Zenga has been able to close the gap between physical and digital.  

This year’s show, directed by Film Director Mattia Benetti and Director of Photography Nicola Civarelli, features elegant outerwear staples and the brand’s usual relaxed suiting. Zenga has a history of using materials recovered in the manufacturing process in their collections, and this collection experiments with fabrics like nylon and cashmere that come together to from one cohesive whole. 

Models clad in beige, cream, and black knits trudging through a snow-lined path in Oasi Zegna contrasted with a futuristic, orange-tinted runway in Milan, where models sported greys, browns, and maroons. Both realities were tied together with a constant pop of orange, the color of the season for Zegna. Dancers in matching orange jumpsuits and balaclavas paired with black gloves added to the futuristic vibe.  

“I keep looking at the world through the Zegna lens. The reality we live in today requires adaptability; It asks us all to be fluid,” wrote Artistic Director Alessandro Sartori at the end of the show. “Translating this idea into clothing means building a language of shapes and textures that grows and consolidates over time, matching the needs of the moment.”  

As we’ve come to expect from Sartori, this year’s show, which was styled by Julie Ragolia, followed suit from last year’s #WhatMakesAMan Fall/Winter collection in pushing boundaries and exploring a more fluid reality. The collection built upon last winter’s use of cashmere and oversized contemporary tailoring to redefine what menswear is in the 21st century. “The notion of the hybrid is one I keep exploring, because there’s progress in erasing staid categories,” wrote Sartori. 

The show was the first for Zegna, formerly known as Ermenegildo Zegna, since the company went public in December 2021 and subsequently consolidated their lines into one single line spearheaded by Sartori.  

Watch the full show below.