Fashion history was made on Thursday when two of fashion’s most storied family-run houses, Zegna and Elie Saab, came together for an exclusive panel event, called “Threads of Legacy – When Heritage Becomes Vision,” which was hosted at Villa Zegna inside the iconic Dubai Opera.
(L-R) Lara Mansour, Elie Saab, Gildo Zegna, Elie Saab J, and Angelo Zegna
The discussion featured four key figures from the houses: Gildo Zegna, Chairman and CEO of the Ermenegildo Zegna Group; Angelo Zegna, fourth-generation family member and CEO of the EMEA Region and Global Client Strategy Director at ZEGNA; Elie Saab, Founder and Creative Director of ELIE SAAB; and Elie Saab Jr., CEO and Vice Chairman of ELIE SAAB.
Moderating the dialogue was Lara Mansour, Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Adam & Eve magazine. Mansour steered the conversation with measured insight, allowing the panel to delve deeply into themes of legacy, innovation, and generational change within the luxury fashion industry.
Held within the temporary, members-only Villa Zegna (created by ZEGNA for one week only) the panel provided rare access to the inner workings of two global fashion dynasties. The conversation explored how each house continues to navigate the tension between heritage and innovation, offering reflections on growth, reinvention, and the evolving role of family leadership.
Both the Zegna and Saab families spoke with candour, sharing personal anecdotes about pivotal decisions and internal transformations. They discussed the value of staying rooted in core principles while remaining agile enough to evolve with the times. The event reinforced the idea of legacy not merely as inheritance, but as an ongoing process shaped by vision, values, and a commitment to purposeful growth.
The encounter highlighted how both brands, while distinct in style and history, share a common philosophy: the importance of continuity, creativity, and the responsibility that comes with global influence. It served as a testament to the enduring power of family-led craftsmanship in a fast-changing industry.
