Luxury shoemakers and leather goods company Tod’s was founded in Italy in the late 1920s by Filippo Della Valle, who started the business from his basement. Initially a shoemaking company, Tod’s later began producing private label shoes for American companies like American labels such as Bergdorf Goodman and Saks Fifth Avenue during the ‘50s and ‘60s. The following decade, the founder’s grandson — Diego Della Valle — took over and began manufacturing shoes under the Tod’s brand.
With none of the founding members bearing the name ‘Tod’, legend has it that Diego Della Valle selected the name J.P. Tod’s from a Boston phonebook, on the basis that it had to be easy to pronounce by Americans. Della Valle later dropped the first two initials, as the brand had started to become known as J.P. in America. It’s said that Della Valle liked the ‘roundedness’ and ‘friendliness’ of the letters.
Titled ‘A Timeless Story’, the latest Tod’s campaign hones in on the luxury label’s Italian roots. A luxuriously neutral colour palette sets a strong base to highlight to T Timeless collection; an elegant lineup of Tod’s essentials. The ‘T’ motif ties the collection together, featuring on bag tags and closures, on loafers, and as belt buckles.
The T Timeless collection is available to shop via the Tod’s webstore.
Words by Arabella Johnson
