Ermenegildo Zegna Light Grey & Taupe Alpaca, Wool, Polyamide & Cashmere Houndstooth Jacket

Full Canvas Construction

A sartorial jacket - or coat - needs an interlining that will help give it shape and mold it. Canvas gives the item a tailored and crafted look. In short, it breathes life into it. Purely technical, canvas is made from either horsehair, wool, mohair or camel hair. It could also be a mix of them all, with varying thickness and weight. The canvas is stitched to the jacket, often by hand, thus making the canvas pieces 'floating' in the middle of the inner and outer cloth. This gives the jacket added flexibility. The canvas runs from the upper parts, all the way down to the end of the jacket. After you wear your canvassed suit for a while, it will begin to take your shape and look incredibly natural.

Soft Shoulders

Soft Shoulders, or lightly padded shoulder construction, gives a softer, more casual silhouette to a tailored jacket. Soft shoulders have little padding and follow the contour of the individual’s shoulder to accentuate the wearer’s natural features.

Buttonhole

The buttonhole on the lapel of a jacket, traditionally found on the left side, is a classic feature rooted in both functionality and decoration. Historically, it served a practical purpose, allowing gentlemen to fasten the lapel to the opposite side for extra protection against cold weather or to secure a boutonnière, a decorative flower. While its functional use has largely diminished in modern times, the lapel buttonhole remains a staple of formal and semi-formal menswear, often used to add a touch of elegance with the addition of a boutonnière for special occasions.

Two-Button Closure

The jacket has a two-button closure which keeps the profile neat.

Chest pocket - Rounded welt pocket

Also known as ‘barchetta’ Italian for ‘little boat’, it is so named because this pocket floats on the chest gently angled upward, just like the bow of a sailboat. These pockets echo the lively roll of a lapel that carries the spring of canvas and natural wool, unlike machine-made chest pockets that have a more stamped-out, rectangular shape and less life.

Darts

The tailors adds two darts - think of them as pinched seams - to ensure the jacket’s body achieves a slim silhouette. The process, called mezzo punto riprese, is done entirely by hand.

Horn Buttons

Horn buttons are prized for their quality. They are made with the finest genuine horn material, improving the appearance of the suit. And because they are so strong, you don't have to worry about them cracking or breaking.

Patch Pocket

Patch pockets, with their rugged functionality, were unsurprisingly adopted by the military for both shirts and jackets.