fashionologie

It's Official - Diego Della Valle and Tod's To Restore Roman Colosseum

fashionologie — Fri, 21 Jan 2011 13:55:41 PST

>> Officials from Italy’s Ministry of Culture have approved the offer Diego Della Valle, the chairman and CEO of Tod's, made to finance the restoration of Rome’s Colosseum. Tod's Group will be responsible for a monetary commitment of 25 million euros (approx. $32.8 million) to the project, which is expected to begin at the end of the year and take up to two and a half years.

"A monument that represents Italy in the world must be restored, and a company that represents Made in Italy stepped forward to say, 'If you need us, we are here,'" Della Valle said at a press conference. When recently asked what benefits to Tod's sponsoring the project would bring, Della Valle told WWD that “there is a moment to take and there is a moment to give” and that this is a cultural project, not a commercial one.

Tod's Doesn't Take Risks, According to Diego Della Valle, But It's Paying Off

fashionologie — Mon, 11 Oct 2010 14:13:33 PDT

>> As luxury brands are increasingly turning to manufacturing in China and technological savvy to increase profits, Tod's chairman Diego Della Valle refuses. He runs Tod's like a traditional, old-fashioned family business - instead of listening to focus groups to decide which new shoe styles should go into production, he wears the shoes, and decides after a few days if they're to his liking. And there are no computers or iPhones in his office - Della Valle makes do with an outdated Motorola cellphone.

“We don’t take risks,” says Della Valle, who has grown Tod's into a multibillion dollar company and kept the business concentrated on shoes and handbags. “We want to guarantee our customers we’re giving them the best.” While the brand has 24 stores in China, Della Valle refuses to move production there just to reduce costs, something that other Italian-based brands have done recently.

A men's crocodile loafer retails for 3,500 euros and costs 1,590 euros for Tod's to make in Italy; making it in China would reduce production costs by half, and therefore, increase the company's profitability. But Della Valle thinks it's worth the price - and the strategy is paying off. Tod's was one of the few luxury companies worldwide to increase sales and profits throughout the financial crisis: profits grew from 77 million euros in 2007 to 83 million in 2008 and 86 million in 2009.

fashionologie — Wed, 17 Mar 2010 14:13:38 PDT

>> Karl Lagerfeld Confirmed to Design for Hogan While Namesake Label Hangs in Balance -Karl Lagerfeld has confirmed earlier speculation that he will design a one-off collection for Hogan next Spring; the future of his signature line, however, is not so certain. The Lagerfeld label, a subsidiary of Tommy Hilfiger since 2005, was not part of the Hilfiger acquisition earlier this week by Phillips-Van Heusen, and will be retained by former Hilfiger owners Apax. Of Lagerfeld, Apax partner Christian Stahl said: "It’s not commercially the best brand in the world, but in terms of appeal and recognition, I think it’s a great brand. We’re going to focus on it and develop it.” But he's not denying that Apax will try to sell the label: “Every company we own is for sale.” [Style File, WWD]

fashionologie — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 11:36:37 PST

>> Karl Lagerfeld to Shoot Next Pirelli Calendar, May Collaborate with Hogan -Every year, Pirelli taps a new photographer for their annual calendar: Terry Richardson did the honors for the 2010 edition, and for 2011, Karl Lagerfeld will shoot "all the top girls" in April. “I’ll do it in my studio in Paris. It’s too obvious to have a beach setting." Lagerfeld is also rumored to be the "marquee" name Diego Della Valle is in talks with about doing a one-off Hogan collection. [WWD]

fashionologie — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 09:36:45 PST

>> Diego Della Valle Has a Mystery Marquee Collaborator for Hogan Up His Sleeve -Diego Della Valle appointed Thakoon Panichgul two years ago to help oversee a newly-launched Hogan apparel collection, but the collaboration ended last season. Now, Della Valle says his goal is to have Hogan clothing sales equal accessories sales within the next few years, and he's teasing an upcoming collaboration with a "marquee" name. But who? He won't yet say. [WWD]

fashionologie — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 10:58:09 PDT

>> Anna Dello Russo's Home Featured in Upcoming Book from Tod's -Tod's commissioned a new picture book called Italian Touch, which inside features - among the 100-plus Italians of different ages photographed, Vogue Nippon's fashion director-at-large (and cult style icon) Anna Dello Russo, captured in her Milan home; the preview shown features an enlarged still from Luchino Visconti’s The Leopard on the wall behind her and Tod's moccasins, of course, next to her. The book is available to pre-order online. [Style File]

fashionologie — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 19:15:36 PDT

>> Bruno Frisoni Donated Shoes to Lacroix's Show; LVMH President Speaks on Lacroix Purchase Rumors -If the shoes at Christian Lacroix's Fall 2009 couture show seemed familiar, it's because Bruno Frisoni of Roger Vivier and Vivier owner Diego Della Valle donated them, according to the former: "I called Mr. Della Valle and told him what was happening and he said, ‘Yes, of course, we’re with [Lacroix].” As for the rumors of LVMH repurchasing Lacroix, LVMH President Yves Carcelle said after the show: “Oh, this I don’t know! I’m here as a friend and not as a member of LVMH.” For his part, Frisoni thought Lacroix "has to continue" - "the best thing is to keep the name and do it in a very simple way, like Azzedine Alaia does." Lacroix apparently agrees, envisioning "a move to a different house in a different location and a customer approach that mirrors that established by Azzedine Alaia in his own studio-emporium-salon," according to Hamish Bowles.[On the Runway, Vogue Daily]

fashionologie — Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:00:22 PDT

>> INSIDER WIRE -It sounds like Olivier Theyskens won't be heading to Schiaparelli after all: the label's owner, Diego Della Valle, now says he doesn't plan to revive the house before 2011; originally he was aiming for 2010. It's doubtful that Theyskens would want to wait two years before his next runway show, and Della Valle verifies that no designer has been chosen to head up Schiaparelli. “This is not the right time . . . I hope that markets will have stabilized when we are ready for Schiaparelli." [WWD]

fashionologie — Mon, 13 Apr 2009 16:52:59 PDT

>> INSIDER WIRE -Despite word last week that Halston is poised to poach Olivier Theyskens, those rumors that he might be taking the helm at Schiaparelli are still persisting. We won't know anything until official word comes, but Diane Pernet cites "a very good source" saying that Olivier will be relaunching the house for owner Diego Della Valle; Theyskens's aesthetic certainly seemed more aligned with Schiaparelli than Halston. [A Shaded View on Fashion]
*image: source

Olivier Theyskens Officially Out at Nina Ricci

fashionologie — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 11:57:32 PDT

>> All signs pointed to Olivier Theyskens's imminent exit from Nina Ricci, and now it's official: house and designer released a joint statement revealing that Olivier is gone as of March 10, despite the fact that his contract goes through October.

Neither Theyskens or Ricci would comment beyond the statement, in which the house indicated it “wishes to re-orientate its development strategy for the years to come. Consequently, Nina Ricci and its artistic director Olivier Theyksens have decided by mutual agreement to cease their collaboration.” All signs point to Peter Copping, top design deputy at Louis Vuitton, being tasked with the reorientation as Olivier's replacement, but no mention of him was made in the statement, and thus no word on when he will be transitioning over for his first Ricci collection.

So what's next for Olivier? »