TOD’S : A Shoemaker That Walks But Never Runs!
“Made By Humans” - defines Tod's heritage of Italian creativity and craftsmanship
Tod’s was born in the early 1900 when Filippo Della Valle built up a shoe workshop in Marche, an Italian well known region for its artisans and the excellent know-how of leather working.
During the 1940s, his son, Dorino Della Valle expanded the activity into a small shoe manufacturing company working for the most known brands of that time. In 1975 it was the turn of Dorino's son, Diego Della Valle to transform the company into a leading luxury brand well known worldwide for its Made in Italy.
Tod’s combines tradition, high quality and modernity with an exclusive functional design, with the result of a timeless refined elegance.
Undisputed protagonist is the leather in all its shades and processing. Tod’s processed the most prestigious leathers coming from the best tanneries of the world to guarantee always the maximum high quality final product available in the market.
History
Diego Valle, who decided to start his own brand in 1978, named the company J. P. Tod’s after the name caught his eye in a Boston phonebook. The initials J P were later dropped.
Diego is known for doing things the old-fashioned way: by instinct. To find out if a new style of shoes will work in the marketplace, he doesn’t need focus groups or poll testing he wears them. After a few days, if they’re not to his liking, he renders his verdict: “These won’t go into production.”
Despite running Tod’s like a traditional, Old World family business, he has turned it into a successful multinational, multibillion-dollar company, whose buttery leather moccasins adorn the feet of Princess Stéphanie of Monaco, Gwyneth Paltrow and thousands of other loyalists around the world.
But if relying on tradition is a fading style in the modern luxury market, that is what has kept this company growing. “We don’t take risks,” says Diego, who has kept the business concentrated on shoes and handbags. “We want to guarantee our customers we’re giving them the best.”
Leadership
Something else he hasn’t done is follow the trend of other Italian-based multinational companies that are moving production to cheaper points like China. A men’s crocodile loafer, which retails for 3,500 euros, or about $4,850, costs 1,590 euros for Tod’s to produce
in Italy.
Making it in China would reduce the cost by half. But while “Made in Italy” may cost more, Diego says he still thinks it is worth the price. “Tod’s is proof that if you manage your brand consistently and you build brand equity over the years, you reach a stage where demand remains strong, even in tough times,”
COMING off a decade when Jimmy Choos and Manolo Blahniks flew from the shelves, Tod’s marched quietly ahead by fabricating subtle variations of its signature gommini, or driving moccasin, into which tired feet could slip chicly when the stilettos came off. The secret is pure Italian style, which Diego claims is identifiable anywhere in the world. “When I am walking in Central Park, I recognize the Italians,” he says. “Because an Italian, even when he jogs, he’s dressed perfectly.”
He makes sure this is reflected in Tod’s shoes and handbags. “There is a time to be chic and sporty, there is a time to be sexy and feminine, but it’s hard to find the balance, and Tod’s has done that,” he says.
Tod’s Eyewear
The same research of quality and exclusivity is dedicated to the Tod’s Eyewear collection, strongly linked to the brand core values and to the Made in Italy. The sunglass and optical collection, realized in collaboration with Marcolin since 2008, forms a unique mix of elegance and exclusive design, enriched by prestigious materials where the leather is protagonist.
Tod’s sunglasses and optical frames are embellished with an exclusive braided leather as an iconic element hand stitched by an Italian artisan on the temples to emphasize always the absolute craftsmanship that can be found in every creation.
Latest Eyewear Collection
Innovation, research, and passion are the inspirations behind the new Tod’s eyewear collection. A new perspective translates a continuum of unmistakable elements into details that speak of the brand’s stylistic evolution.
A mastery of craftsmanship, expertise, and attention to fine details are the tools used by Tod’s to turn ideas into iconic products. The skillful art of braiding strips of leather together, the creation of harmonious silhouettes, and the unique personalization of the frames give life to modern and sophisticated sunglasses and optical frames. An in-depth knowledge of luxury and a contemporary take on Italian good taste become role models that reinvent the experience of elegance.
The Timeless “T” logo on the frames is a precious detail that identifies the brand’s accessory collections as well as a signature element that personalizes a collection recounting a journey through style, accompanied by functionality, design, and quality. A path that reveals a new horizon in beauty, a place where personality
takes shape.
tod's Sunglasses and Opticals Collection
TO0324
A vintage-inspired round shape. The frame features a keyhole bridge and modern detailing, such as thick geometric temples on which the “T” logo detail stands out, making this style truly unique and suitable for elegant and fashion-conscious men
TO5259
An optical frame with a soft cat-eye silhouette. Intense hues harmoniously dialogue with transparent nuances, creating an elegant and sophisticated frame. The acetate front is adorned with the Timeless “T” logo outlining the metal temples. A style designed for fashionable women wishing to always be on trend
TO0323
Women’s retro-inspired butterfly sunglasses. Front profiles in contrasting colors and sturdy temples embellished with the iconic “T” logo highlighting Tod’s unmistakable style. The ideal choice for classy and sophisticated women.
TO5267
A round optical shape for men. Classic inspirations meet precious details highlighting its modernity. The acetate front features a slim metal double bridge and temples enhanced by Tod’s iconic braided leather detail. A fine combination of materials that lends refined elegance to this style.
