L'Italo-Americano

THURSDAY, JULY 11, 2024 www.italoamericano.org 16 L'Italo-Americano T od's is an iconic Italian brand syn- onymous with lux- ury leather goods, known primarily for its exquisite shoes and handbags. The brand's origins date back to the early 20th century when Filippo Della V a l l e , a s k i l l e d c o b b l e r , founded a small shoe work- shop in the Marche region of Italy. The true transformation of Tod's into a global luxury b r a n d o c c u r r e d u n d e r t h e s t e w a r d s h i p o f F i l i p p o ' s g r a n d s o n , D i e g o D e l l a Valle. Born in 1953, Diego took over the family business in the late 1970s with a vision to blend traditional Italian craftsmanship with contem- p o r a r y d e s i g n a n d g l o b a l appeal. Under his leadership, Tod's expanded significantly, developing a reputation for quality, elegance, and timeless s t y l e . I n d e e d , T o d ' s i s renowned for its commitment to craftsmanship and quality i n a v a r i e t y o f p r o d u c t s , including shoes, handbags, and accessories, each crafted with meticulous attention to detail and using the finest materials. Thanks to Diego Della Valle, Tod's became an i n t e r n a t i o n a l b r a n d , a n d opened flagship stores in fash- ion capitals such as Milan, New York, Paris, and Tokyo, establishing a strong global p r e s e n c e . I n 2 0 0 0 , T o d ' s Group went public, listing on the Milan Stock Exchange, which marked a new phase of growth and development. Among the many beautiful products Tod's is known for, the one that brought it inter- national acclaim is the Gom- mino loafer: introduced in the 1980s, this driving shoe features 133 rubber pebbles (gommini) embedded in the sole, providing comfort, flexi- b i l i t y , a n d a d i s t i n c t i v e design. The Gommino quick- ly became a symbol of casual luxury and remains one of Tod's best-selling items. In addition to footwear, Tod's offers a range of hand- bags known for their elegance and practicality: the D-Bag, named after Princess Diana (who loved the brand) is one of the most iconic pieces in their collection. The brand also produces belts, wallets, and other leather accessories, all reflecting the same dedi- cation to quality and style. B u t T o d ' s i s m o r e than...Tod's, as the group also encompasses other luxury brands, including Hogan and Fay, each catering to dif- ferent aspects of the luxury market. Hogan is known for its chic casual footwear and clothing, while Fay special- izes in high-quality outer- w e a r . I n 2 0 0 6 , T o d ' s acquired the legendary fash- ion house Roger Vivier, fur- ther diversifying its portfolio. T o d ' s h a s c o n s i s t e n t l y demonstrated strong finan- cial performance, driven by its reputation for quality and the timeless appeal of its products. Despite the chal- lenges faced by the luxury sector, the brand has main- tained a steady growth trajec- tory. As of recent reports, The Group generates annual rev- enues of approximately 900 million euros, with its prod- ucts sold in over 70 countries worldwide. The brand's suc- cess can be attributed to its unwavering commitment to craftsmanship, strategic glob- al expansion, and ability to adapt to changing market trends while preserving its heritage. Brand philosophy and recognition Tod's philosophy revolves around the principles of luxu- ry, quality, and timeless ele- gance. The brand's motto, "Made in Italy," underscores its dedication to traditional Italian craftsmanship, a c commitment to excellence that has earned Tod's a loyal customer base and recogni- tion as one of the leading names in luxury fashion. In fact, the brand has long been a favorite among royal- ty, Hollywood celebrities, and f a s h i o n i c o n s . T h e l a t e Princess Diana frequently carried Tod's handbags, and the iconic D-Bag, as we said, w a s n a m e d i n h e r h o n o r . Queen Rania of Jordan and P r i n c e W i l l i a m h a v e a l s o been spotted wearing Tod's, along with Hollywood stars such as George Clooney, Brad Pitt, Gwyneth Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Ryan Gosling, Charlize Theron, and Jennifer Aniston. Fashion influencers like Anna Wintour, Olivia P a l e r m o , K a t e M o s s , a n d Blake Lively are regularly s e e n i n c o r p o r a t i n g T o d ' s pieces into their outfits, fur- ther cementing the brand's status in the fashion world. Even sports and style icon David Beckham is a fan. In recent years, Tod's has embraced digital innovation a n d s u s t a i n a b i l i t y a n d launched e-commerce plat- forms to improve its online presence and accessibility to a global audience. Additionally, Tod's is committed to sus- tainable practices, incorpo- rating eco-friendly materials and processes into its produc- tion. T he hydrofoil is a t y p e o f f a s t w a t e r c r a f t t h a t r i s e s a b o v e t h e w a t e r o n w i n g - like foils as it gains speed, reducing drag and allowing for higher speeds. This inno- vative vessel was invented by I t a l i a n e n g i n e e r E n r i c o Forlanini, whose work sig- nificantly impacted maritime travel. Forlanini (1848-1930) w a s a n I t a l i a n e n g i n e e r , inventor, and aeronautical pioneer. Born in Milan, he had a profound interest in aviation and marine engi- neering from a young age. He studied at the Military Academy of Turin and later at the Politecnico di Milano, where he focused on engi- neering. F o r l a n i n i ' s i n t e r e s t i n reducing water resistance and increasing the speed of watercraft led him to experi- ment with hydrofoils in the early 20th century and, in 1906, he successfully tested a prototype on Lake Maggiore in Italy. This early hydrofoil was equipped with a system of underwater wings (foils) that lifted the hull of the boat above the water as it acceler- a t e d , a d e s i g n t h a t m i n i - mized drag and allowed the v e s s e l t o a c h i e v e h i g h e r s p e e d s t h a n c o n v e n t i o n a l boats. The principle is relatively s i m p l e y e t i n g e n i o u s : t h e underwater foils generate lift w h e n t h e b o a t m o v e s f o r - ward, similar to the wings of a n a i r p l a n e . A s t h e s p e e d increases, the lift from the foils raises the hull out of the water, drastically reducing h y d r o d y n a m i c d r a g . T h i s enables the hydrofoil to trav- el at much higher speeds, making it ideal for passenger ferries and other applications where speed is crucial. F o r l a n i n i ' s i n v e n t i o n m a r k e d a s i g n i f i c a n t a d v a n c e m e n t i n m a r i t i m e t e c h n o l o g y : a l t h o u g h h i s early models were primarily experimental, they laid the groundwork for future devel- o p m e n t . B y t h e m i d - 2 0 t h c e n t u r y , h y d r o f o i l s h a d become more widespread, particularly in commercial ferry services, offering rapid t r a n s i t a c r o s s b o d i e s o f water. They gained populari- t y i n v a r i o u s p a r t s o f t h e w o r l d , e s p e c i a l l y i n a r e a s requiring fast marine trans- portation, with the technolo- gy being particularly benefi- c i a l i n c o n n e c t i n g i s l a n d s and coastal cities, as they can reduce travel times signifi- c a n t l y w h e n c o m p a r e d t o conventional boats. F o r l a n i n i ' s p i o n e e r i n g work not only advanced mar- itime travel but also inspired future generations of engi- n e e r s a n d i n v e n t o r s a n d , today, the hydrofoil remains a symbol of how innovative thinking can transform and revolutionize transportation. An hydrofoil on Lake Como. The boat provides a time saving service across the Italian lake (Photo: 44Photography/Dreamstime) Tod's iconic "Gommino" loafers and one of their bags (Photo: Grzegorz Czapski/Dreamstime) The hydrofoil: a groundbreaking Italian achievement Tod's: Italy's classical design from Marche LA VITA ITALIANA TRADITIONS HISTORY CULTURE BORGHI

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