Factoring in the Factory
Ong Chin Huat discovers what Tod’s latest T Factory project is all about and why Italianan designer Alessandro Dell’acqua was chosenn as the inaugural collaborator
When avant-garde pop artist and filmmaker Andy Warhol created a studio which was essentially a test lab and breeding ground for all kinds of creativity in New York City in the early 1960s, little did he know that this experimental concept called The Factory would have a ripple effect across generations. Fast forward today, and although Warhol may not be around any longer, and as hip and happening as he was during his time, he would so approve of Tod’s T Factory which drew its inspiration and inception from the silver-haired maestro’s studio. The Tod’s T Factory project is a series of collaborations with designers resulting in a Tod’s capsule collection encompassing shoes, ready-towear plus accessories. And who better to talk about this initiative than the mastermind behind it, the president and CEO of the Tod’s Group, Diego Della Valle himself. “The Tod’s T Factory project is a collaboration with talents from all areas of creativity that we will invite to interpret Tod’s DNA,” says Della Valle. “This project unites heritage, innovation and creativity.” Furthermore, with the speed of life today, Della Valle
“The Tod’s T Factory project is a collaboration with talents from all areas of creativity”
believes in presenting a capsulesule collection and limited edition pieces a few times a year, between the main collections, which would be a special treat for Tod’s esteemed clientele. Appropriately beginning with the first letter of the alphabet, Tod’s has appointed Alessandro Dell’acqua as the first collaborator for the T Factory—a designer who has made a positive impact with his quirky twists and updated classics. As the first collaborator for the Tod’s T Factory project, Dell’acqua confined the capsule collection to three main colours—tod’s signature tan, Dell’acqua’s perennial favourite black and blush pink. Expect to find sleek Tod’s Gommino driving shoes, dainty kitten-heel pumps and stretch ankle boots, all interpreted in Dell’aqua’s chic and effortlessly glamorous way as only he knows how. “For this T Factory collaboration with Tod’s. I brought together cool metropolitan and Italian craftsmanship,” says Dell’acqua. “I love precise lines and iconic garments with unexpected details that turn everything upside down… The physical touch and care over finishes are essential, as they confer character and identity.” And apart from shoes, ready-to-wear items like trench coats and biker jackets also take pride of place in the inaugural T Factory collection. Dell’acqua’s love of beautiful things made in precious materials, sophisticated elegance and fine workmanship is evident and makes him a perfect fit for Tod’s as it echoes the brand’s identity and core values. “In revisiting Tod’s moccasin, I captured Italian style in contrasting leather and velvet, in the game between masculine and feminine,” he says. When asked why Dell’acqua was the first designer to be chosen, Della Valle replied: “We chose stylists and designers not just based on their capabilities, but also because they have views in common with us. I know Alessandro
Dell’acqua personally and apart from liking his work, he understands the Tod’s DNA perfectly and followed it. He added a very feminine touch to our brand and being Italian himself, he knows about the Italian lifestyle which is what our core values are all about.” Della Valle states that future collaborations will not only be limited to fashion designers, and just like Warhol’s Factory, it will also include other creatives such as photographers, stylists, students and artists. “Alessandro Dell’acqua is the first of a very long series. We would like to create more than one capsule a year. The people we partner with in this T Factory project will need to have some basic characteristics and qualities, and would need to understand Tod’s DNA and interpret it in their own unique style to infuse it with their personal innovative touch, while never forgetting our high quality standards of materials and production.” The raison d’être for the Tod’s T Factory project is reflected in the current times we live in—the advent of social media and the voracious appetites of fashion fans for newer and faster collections. Della Valle explains: “The fashion industry is undergoing great changes and you have to be on your toes constantly to keep interest alive in your brand,” he states. “Everything is continually changing and time and innovation are key words. We need to come out with special products which appeal to our customers at the right moment… The role of social media is important, but for us it is not the number of followers you have, but the quality of followers which matter.” Della Valle also believes the retail experience can’t be substituted by a few swipes on your mobile phone. “We like our customers to feel as though they’re in a dream when they come to visit our boutiques. That is why we keep our latest collections exclusively for sale in our stores and invest in new store concepts. For instance, our Sloane Street boutique in London has recently been renovated to give our customers the feeling of living in a special apartment.” Connecting with their customers in a very personalised way has always been at
the forefront of Tod’s brand values; they have come to expect the very best quality products made with outstanding Italian craftsmanship in the finest materials. This is only possible because of the highly skilled artisans who work at Tod’s manufacturing facilities such as the recently opened Tod’s factory in Arquata del Tronto in Italy. This fully operational factory was built by Tod’s, specially to help the residents of the Italian town which was devastated by an earthquake in 2016, and enable them to find employment plus be trained in high level artisanal skills. Similarly, sponsoring the restoration of the iconic historical landmark, the Colosseum in Rome was also something Tod’s and Della Valle personally undertook. “When the Italian government approached us to help with the renovation of the Colosseum, I didn’t hesitate and immediately answered. I thought it was a way to help my country and give back something of my success to Italians. I am a lucky businessman and I think it is important to give back something to the community.”
Future collaborations will also include other creatives such as photographers, stylists, students and artists