Dezeen Magazine

"Luxury meets streetwear" in Ermenegildo Zegna's customisable My Cesare trainers

Dezeen promotion: Ermenegildo Zegna has launched My Cesare, its first customisable sneaker collection "where the worlds of luxury and streetwear meet".

Dubbed by Ermenegildo Zegna as "the future of luxury streetwear", My Cesare range allows the wearer to personalise their sneaker in up to 10 different colours.

"The notion of a fully customised luxury streetwear sneaker is an incredibly unique and new one," explained the Italian luxury menswear brand.

"My Cesare shows where the worlds of luxury and streetwear meet, and showcases how our hand-crafted skill has intertwined with hyper-detailed and athletic footwear."

My Cesare by Ermengildo Zegna

My Cesare is an extension of the brand's Cesare sneaker range, which was first revealed in January as part of Ermenegildo Zegna's AW19 show in Milan.

The ultra-light, versatile, shock-absorbing sneaker is characterised by its bold silhouette and multi-material construction, which makes it an easily modifiable design.

Wearers can personalise their trainers by choosing between 10 colours to apply in various combinations across its overlapping mesh and leather upper, as well as its midsole.

My Cesare by Ermengildo Zegna

Other changeable elements include the brand's handmade-leather XXX logo, and the choice of chunky patterned laces.

There is also the option for the back of the shoe to be personalised with lettering, which can be used to display the owner's initials.

"Whether you craft a uniquely coloured midsole, change the XXX logo to your preferred colour, alter the look of the mesh, or personalise the font and letters on the back to your own initials – this is the future of luxury streetwear," added the brand.

"We challenge conventions and we pioneer new sartorial techniques and visions, without losing sight of our roots as the quintessential Italian brand."

My Cesare by Ermengildo Zegna

Alongside the launch, Ermenegildo Zegna commissioned leading London-based creative directors DJA to create a campaign for My Cesare that supported the "incredibly unique" concept.

DJA's campaign, which includes a video, marries Roman typography with Ermenegildo Zegna's XXX logo, creating "a bold, playful, campaign that makes a modern-day icon from Zegna's new statement sneaker".

Founded in Italy in 1910, Ermenegildo Zegna first developed its reputation for its use of fine fabrics – for which it is now one of the biggest, and ethical, global producers.

Today, Ermenegildo Zegna is recognised as a leading luxury menswear fashion house. Alongside producing clothing and accessories for its own labels, it also manufactures suits for leading designers including Gucci and Tom Ford.

Find out more about My Cesare sneakers on Ermenegildo Zegna's website.