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Tod's Icons

Tod's Icons of Style exhibition, Milan

Luxury goods brand Tod's and celebrated architect Giulio Cappellini have joined forces once again at this year's Salone, with an exhibition heralding remarkable pieces of design that transcend time.

Tod's has always had a close relationship to the design world. When Cappellini curated an exhibition in New York, featuring his top 100 design icons, Tod's 'Gommino' driving shoe was chosen as the only fashion representative. It is a timeless cult classic, whose relevance will be as strong tomorrow as it is today and was yesterday.

This year's Salone exhibition follows on from last year's show, titled 'Design Icons', and once again shows the brand's commitment to celebrating extraordinary and timeless design. The window displays at Tod's flagship store will feature Tod's icons, including the D bag, the Gommino, and the Ballerina, flanked by iconic works by some of the design world's biggest names, chosen by Cappellini. Expect items like Kartell's 'Louis Ghost' chair, designed by Philippe Starck, and the anniversary edition of Fritz Hansen's 'Egg' chair, conceived by Arne Jacobsen.

As with the inimitable Tod's iconic classics, the works on show fuse design, art, functionality and exceptional craftsmanship.

The exhibition runs from 14th to 19th April.
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View the Tod's Icon's exhibition gallery

The Making of the Tod's Icons

The Tod's signature driving shoe was born in the late 1970s. Named the Gommino and sported today by luminaries including Gwyneth Paltrow and Scarlett Johansson, the Gommino was conceived as an emblem of the luxury brand's ethos -- expert Italian craftsmanship with exceptional attention to detail.

Over 100 steps are involved in the building of the Gommino, from the cutting of the pieces that form its basic structure, to the sewing together of all individual parts. The entire process is done by hand in the brand's Italian factories in Casette D'Ete in the Marche region -- which is also Tod's HQ and where the brand began life at the beginning of the last century.

The brand expanded its collection in 1997, introducing a line of classic handbags. The 'heels' at each angle of the now iconic D Bag mimic those of the Tod's Gommino and the product is assembled with the same precision. For S/S 2010, the D Bag has been reinterpreted as a Bauletto or tote, available in calf leather or matte crocodile skin.

The Ballerina is one of Tod's more recent icons. Bearing the trademark pebble sole, it is a casual and chic addition -- both supple and light with elasticated detail for a perfect fit. The Ballerina evolves each season with unique embellishments and details from laces to buckles, limited editions and of course, the ever increasing rainbow of colour options - quintessentially Tod's.

View more from the making of the Tod's Icons

Glimpse inside the world of Tod's

Take a look at the incredible craftsmanship involved in the Tod's production process. As this special video shows, the Italian brand has turned shoe and bag making into a fine art. Discover more by watching this clip.