In 1977, the Tod’s adventure began. While attending an auto rally in the US, the young Diego Della Valle, then 24 years old, developed a passion for the drivers’ shoes. These shoes, odd little moccasins equipped with rubber pebbles, would become the iconic Gomminos. 15 years after the sportswear wave, the president of Tod’s, known for his passion for leather, put all his savoir-faire into this shoe that is emblematic of the Italian way of life. Diego Della Valle recounts: “…even though in those days, in Italy, we were always dressed to the nines, I wanted to create a casual product to wear during the week with a suit, on the weekend with a pair of jeans. This was the grand idea behind Tod’s, with a major innovation: giving elegance to a rubber sole.” The spirit of Tod’s was born. Timeless and minimalist, the brand’s style became the symbol of restrained elegance. In 1996, Lady Di didn’t hesitate to declare to the New York Times: “These shoes are a good luck charm against vulgarity. You can wear them just as well with a sporty outfit as with a suit or a tuxedo.” The Gommino became iconic.
For two seasons now, Andrea Incontri has striven to make Tod’s ready-to-wear line a reference in the field. For next winter, the brand’s creative director has concocted a masterful ready-to-wear along with a new collection that’s strong and tidy. With his graphic precision, nods to the conception of the Gommino serve as a still palpable reminder of Diego Della Valle’s first meeting. Quality materials, a tidy cut, attention to detail, and a desire for modernity definitively anchor Tod’s clothing in the times. By adopting the label’s codes, Andrea Incontri pays homage to the brand’s artisanal and minute work. And the coherence is plain to see. “I’m sensitive to the fact of offering an eminently wearable wardrobe. I don’t compromise on the pieces’ comfort, simply because a man at ease is a potentially elegant man,” specifies the creative director. Noble materials, beautiful and resolutely contemporary pieces; a fashionable twist gives the sentiment that these are rare and exceptional pieces… Where technique meets tailoring, sport espouses chic, there lies that contemporary touch that has forged Tod’s’ reputation. The Gomminos, this time Spyder, are presented with a buckle on the upper part in a brand new leather line. Bright colors are muted for a collection that oozes with soothing classicism.
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