Dive Brief:
- Walter Chiapponi is stepping down from the creative director role at Tod’s SpA, the company announced Wednesday.
- Chiapponi has led the Italian luxury company’s creative team for both men’s and women’s collections since 2019, per the release.
- Chiapponi’s last collection for Tod’s will be a spring-summer 2024 women’s collection presented on September 22 during Milan Fashion Week.
Dive Insight:
Chiapponi and Tod’s separated by mutual agreement, according to the release, and a new creative director is expected to be named within the next few months.
“We thank Walter for the journey we have walked together, for his creativity and for the commitment we have shared together,” Diego Della Valle, chairman and CEO of the Tod’s Group, said in the news release. “Like Walter, we too will remember this experience in the best possible way. I’d like to take this opportunity to thank the people in the style office who work with great skill and commitment to the brand and company, enabling us to obtain excellent results.”
Tod's credits Chiapponi with evolving Tod’s “contemporary language of style and timeless elegance, enhancing and respecting the quality of craftsmanship and Italian lifestyle through his stylistic identity.”
Chiapponi was the first creative director to oversee the full Tod’s line, including the men’s and women’s collections, plus shoes and handbags. Alessandra Facchinetti had previously been in charge of the women’s collections, and Andrea Incontri had been menswear creative director prior to Chiappoini’s arrival, according to WWD. Chiappoini’s career has included stints at Givenchy, Gucci and Miu Miu.
“Dedication, love and energy. This is how I would like to thank and greet Tod’s, starting from a truly special style team, that supported my vision for 4 years and that contributed to this beautiful journey with delicacy, attention, passion and trust,” Chiapponi said in the release. “An extraordinary experience, both personally and creatively, made of courage and temper, evolution and support, especially in the most delicate moments of life.”
The Tod’s Group also owns the Roger Vivier, Hogan and Fay brands. The Italian company’s most recent earnings saw sales increase by 23.2% compared to the year prior across all brands, at 270.5 million euros or about $302.7 million at current exchange rates.
Chiapponi’s exit marks one of the most recent in a slew of creative and artistic director departures in fashion this year. Earlier this month, Gabriela Hearst announced she was leaving French fashion house Chloé; Daniel Fletcher stepped down from the menswear artistic director role at Fiorucci; and Ludovic de Saint Sernin left Ann Demeulemeester, among many similar moves.
