Here is some more history from a post by member favoritethingshawaii...
Yes JP was part of the name, but no longer. Here's an article about it; I highlighted this info in purple:
http://www.finchsquarterly.com/fqr-style/features/tods/
Ubiquitous doesnt cover it: Theyre too up market to be deemed everywhere.
Nor does Must have. Some people arent tuned into Tods understated luxury. Italian design classic sounds more accurate. Ranking with Persol sunglasses, Panerai watches, Ferrari cars and Alessi, um, ghost wine bottle stoppers, the Tods Gommino driving shoe is a classic. Not bad going since 1978 when one very shrewd Italian, Diego Della Valle, launched his first pairs. Now a key trapping of lux-living and beloved of many of Hollywoods top flight, just what feels so right to garner them to this enviable position? A simple idea and philosophy linked to a lifestyle that a great many people want to buy into; in their pebble stepping droves in fact. To talk about the Gomminos success one has to talk about Della Valle.
Diego grew up surrounded by leather and shoe making. His fathers factory operated since the 1940s in Casette dEte, in the Marche district near Ancona. Although he studied law, Diego was more interested in other stuff, like bars and football, and never became a lawyer. He got involved in the family business in the mid seventies. In 1978 he launched his driving shoe inspired by styles from the 1950s. The name J.P.Tods was selected from the Boston phone directory on the merit that it sounded good in all languages. Later the J.P. was dropped, as it was confusing for some markets. Della Valle wanted The Gommino to function as a versatile item, effortlessly taking the wearer from professional to casual environments. 133 tiny rubber pebbles afford the grip and flexibility for driving, while the all-leather sole construction delivers the level of comfort synonymous with the shoe. It was always intended as an understated item. Tods is not for fashion victims who want to change their look every season; our products are for modern consumers who need practical luxury for their day-to-day lives, says Diego. Thus he chose imagery from an aspirational American life, such as photos of McQueen and Hepburn to tie his products to what he calls a piccolo sogno, or little dream.
Della Valle managed to place an early pair on Gianni Agnelli, who wore them to Juventus football matches. Product endorsement doesnt get higher profile in Italy. This was just the beginning, and soon there was nothing piccolo about the volume of shoes sold. The success is down to a number of reasons that DDVs philosophy encompasses. Refined, understated luxury, impeccable taste and enviable quality. Tods operates meticulous quality control. 100 processes go into making a pair of Gommini, and all are monitored very closely. The head quarters in the Marche region sits next to the factory, and is designed to be an idyllic environment integrated to a work place. Della Valle cares about his workers and about leather too. He is worried about how tanneries are closing, and loosing the old ways. In the next five years he predicts leather will have changed, due to the way animals are fed. The Tods warehouses store the finest leather from the best tanneries all over the world.
Bags were added to the product range in 1997. All of Tods products are made in Italy, though about half are sold abroad. The empire also includes sports shoe brand Hogan, casual wear label Fay and the recently acquired French accessories house, Roger Vivier.
Hes a low key dresser himself, as youd expect. A homogenised wardrobe of black or brown Gommini, or white pumps, with blazers and grey or navy suiting. He wears a Swatch watch, and occasionally a plastic one devised by the board of Ferrari and himself. Those that know, dont show, eh? He doesnt need to show. The man is an absolute business powerhouse. He sits on the board at LVMH , Ferrari, Maserati and the Banca Commerciale Italiana. He owns ACF Fiorentina, as well as properties that include homes in Capri, Milan and Casette dEte. Our boy gets around a fair bit, as youd expect. His vehicles include three boats; a 30s Americas Cup yacht Candida, JFKs mahogany yacht Marlin and a 65 metre one named Altair. These are supplemented by a Silver Dolphin Helicopter, a Falcon 2000 Jet and a red Ferrari. His business portfolio includes investment in Marconi eyewear, and renowned film studio Cinecitta. His links with film continue with liaisons such as a Dennis Hopper directed short starring Gwyneth Paltrow made possible by his lease of Cinecitta.
A formidable squad of A list supporters are frequently seen wearing Tods. Perhaps its their casual fragility that suggests a cosseted life (without shouting), that appeals. Perhaps its because theyre lovely shoes too.
Of course we see Miss Paltrow in them. Also Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson. Men in Tods include De Niro, Tom Cruise, Orlando Bloom, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson and Antonio Banderas. Fancy foot working endorsement indeed. Not that its needed by the look of things. Tods itself has become as potent a lifestyle reference point as the original images Della Valle harnessed in the first place. His Gommini are part of the bigger dream so many are keen to fall deeply into.
TS
Yes JP was part of the name, but no longer. Here's an article about it; I highlighted this info in purple:
http://www.finchsquarterly.com/fqr-style/features/tods/
Ubiquitous doesnt cover it: Theyre too up market to be deemed everywhere.
Nor does Must have. Some people arent tuned into Tods understated luxury. Italian design classic sounds more accurate. Ranking with Persol sunglasses, Panerai watches, Ferrari cars and Alessi, um, ghost wine bottle stoppers, the Tods Gommino driving shoe is a classic. Not bad going since 1978 when one very shrewd Italian, Diego Della Valle, launched his first pairs. Now a key trapping of lux-living and beloved of many of Hollywoods top flight, just what feels so right to garner them to this enviable position? A simple idea and philosophy linked to a lifestyle that a great many people want to buy into; in their pebble stepping droves in fact. To talk about the Gomminos success one has to talk about Della Valle.
Diego grew up surrounded by leather and shoe making. His fathers factory operated since the 1940s in Casette dEte, in the Marche district near Ancona. Although he studied law, Diego was more interested in other stuff, like bars and football, and never became a lawyer. He got involved in the family business in the mid seventies. In 1978 he launched his driving shoe inspired by styles from the 1950s. The name J.P.Tods was selected from the Boston phone directory on the merit that it sounded good in all languages. Later the J.P. was dropped, as it was confusing for some markets. Della Valle wanted The Gommino to function as a versatile item, effortlessly taking the wearer from professional to casual environments. 133 tiny rubber pebbles afford the grip and flexibility for driving, while the all-leather sole construction delivers the level of comfort synonymous with the shoe. It was always intended as an understated item. Tods is not for fashion victims who want to change their look every season; our products are for modern consumers who need practical luxury for their day-to-day lives, says Diego. Thus he chose imagery from an aspirational American life, such as photos of McQueen and Hepburn to tie his products to what he calls a piccolo sogno, or little dream.
Della Valle managed to place an early pair on Gianni Agnelli, who wore them to Juventus football matches. Product endorsement doesnt get higher profile in Italy. This was just the beginning, and soon there was nothing piccolo about the volume of shoes sold. The success is down to a number of reasons that DDVs philosophy encompasses. Refined, understated luxury, impeccable taste and enviable quality. Tods operates meticulous quality control. 100 processes go into making a pair of Gommini, and all are monitored very closely. The head quarters in the Marche region sits next to the factory, and is designed to be an idyllic environment integrated to a work place. Della Valle cares about his workers and about leather too. He is worried about how tanneries are closing, and loosing the old ways. In the next five years he predicts leather will have changed, due to the way animals are fed. The Tods warehouses store the finest leather from the best tanneries all over the world.
Hes a low key dresser himself, as youd expect. A homogenised wardrobe of black or brown Gommini, or white pumps, with blazers and grey or navy suiting. He wears a Swatch watch, and occasionally a plastic one devised by the board of Ferrari and himself. Those that know, dont show, eh? He doesnt need to show. The man is an absolute business powerhouse. He sits on the board at LVMH , Ferrari, Maserati and the Banca Commerciale Italiana. He owns ACF Fiorentina, as well as properties that include homes in Capri, Milan and Casette dEte. Our boy gets around a fair bit, as youd expect. His vehicles include three boats; a 30s Americas Cup yacht Candida, JFKs mahogany yacht Marlin and a 65 metre one named Altair. These are supplemented by a Silver Dolphin Helicopter, a Falcon 2000 Jet and a red Ferrari. His business portfolio includes investment in Marconi eyewear, and renowned film studio Cinecitta. His links with film continue with liaisons such as a Dennis Hopper directed short starring Gwyneth Paltrow made possible by his lease of Cinecitta.
Of course we see Miss Paltrow in them. Also Julia Roberts, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cameron Diaz, Drew Barrymore, Uma Thurman, Scarlett Johansson. Men in Tods include De Niro, Tom Cruise, Orlando Bloom, Michael Douglas, Samuel L. Jackson and Antonio Banderas. Fancy foot working endorsement indeed. Not that its needed by the look of things. Tods itself has become as potent a lifestyle reference point as the original images Della Valle harnessed in the first place. His Gommini are part of the bigger dream so many are keen to fall deeply into.
TS