Tod’s latest chapter, The Art of Craftsmanship – A Project by Venetian Masters, is an initiative that celebrates Italian artistry and Italian heritage, with the Gommino loafers serving as the brand’s main emblem. Tod’s Gommino emerged in the late 1970s, modelled after the driving shoes that were popularised in the 1950s. Featuring a hallmark sole studded with 133 rubber pebbles, it continues to be coveted all around the world. Utilising leather sourced from premier tanneries, crafting the Gommino demands superlative skills. From hand-cutting the leather to attentively sewing each piece, artisans undertake more than a hundred steps to construct a Gommino.
Although the Tod’s loafer was originally conceived for summer wear, the brand introduced a civic variant known as the City Gommino, spotlighting a thicker rubber sole. This version has gained notable recognition and has even been accepted for formal occasions, which radicalised style norms. Over time, the Gommino has evolved with numerous iterations, including the Gommino Bubble—a softer rendition of its classic loafer with oversized rubber pebbles in contrasting colours and contours.
Eleven Venetian masters took on the task of interpreting the Gommino and its fine workmanship through their execution, techniques and creativity. This collaboration between the brand and the City of Venice actively reflects Tod’s contribution to championing artisanship, aptitude,and merit—qualities synonymous with Italy. The project debuted with an exhibition during the opening days of the 60th International Art Exhibition of Venice, with the Venetian masters and Tod’s crafters in attendance, including glassblower Roberto Beltrami, goldbeater Marino Menegazzo, rowlock makers Saverio Pastor and Piero Dri, glass engraver Matteo Seguso, lampworking glass artist Lucio Bubacco, mask maker Sergio Boldrin, and more. Each was inspired by the Gommino and the brand’s principles, creating individual and original pieces with a contemporary twist.
In addition to endeavours such as the restoration of the Colosseum in Rome, Palazzo Marino in Milan, and their involvement with Teatro alla Scala, Tod’s has also partnered the Italian Pavilion at Venice Biennale Arte this year for the installation Due qui (To Hear) by Italian artist Massimo Bartolini and curator Luca Cerizza.
The Art Of Craftsmanship – A Project by Venetian Masters is currently open to the public at Tese di San Cristoforo in Venice’s Arsenale.
More photos of Tod’s, The Art Of Craftsmanship
