Venice’s master craftsmen have been honored by Diego della Valle’s flagship brand. The charismatic businessman who in the mid-70s expanded the shoe workshop – where his grandfather Philippo and his father Dorino had shone – until creating a luxury conglomerate and at the same time an embassy of “Italianness” in the world, has presented at the 60th edition of the Venice Biennale.
High-quality craftsmanship and the tradition of handmade have always been the constant of the Tod’s universe, one of the icons being the Gomino – a glove for the feet -, which has now been interpreted by eleven Venetian artisans. The model, a moccasin with a rubber sole, initially worn by racing drivers, has become a classic that allows for creative interpretations and collaborations.
In the Arsenal pavilion, artisans of glass, mosaic, silk-screen printing and Venetian masks carried out their work live, providing new visions of the famous gomino: from the Murano glass model with colors incapable of repeating, to the mosaics that They interpreted the sole of the shoe.
Among them, the glassblowers Roberto Beltrami and Marino Menegazzo, the glassmakers Saverio Pastor and Piero Dri, the master glassmaker Matteo Seguso (engraving), Lucio Bubacco (lampwork) and the mask maker Sergio Boldrin. Each of them was inspired by the brand’s codes, creating unique and original works that celebrate the savoir-faire and charm of wise craftsmanship.
This project is one more step in Tod’s long journey to promote Italian culture, along with patronage projects such as the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome, the Palazzo Marino in Milan and the commitment to the Teatro alla Scala: This year Tod’s is also partner of the Italian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale for the installation “Due qui / To Hear”, in which the curator Luca Cerizza and the artist Massimo Bartolini participate.
A limited edition dedicated to Venice presents new versions of the T Timeless Bag and the moccasin, selecting colors never seen before, such as Laguna blue and Tiziano red.
The opening of the exhibition The art of Craftmanship was attended by the supermodel and actress Eva Herzigova, the performer Adrien Brody and the Italian businessman Alessandro Benetton among other well-known faces in the industry.
