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The search for a new creative director begins at Tod’s, which confirmed Wednesday that Walter Chiapponi is stepping down from his role overseeing the Italian heritage house’s men’s and women’s collections.
“We thank Walter for the journey we have walked together, for his creativity and for the commitment we have shared together,” said Tod’s chairman and CEO Diego Della Valle in a statement. The decision for the departure was mutual, the company said. “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.”
Chiapponi will present his final collection for the house during Milan Fashion Week in September, where he will showcase women’s Spring/Summer 2024. A new creative director has not been announced.
Tod’s joins a number of luxury brands that are rethinking their creative teams, leading to a slew of departures. Most recently, Daniel W Fletcher stepped down as menswear artistic director of Fiorucci. Two months after showing his debut AW23 collection and just six months at Ann Demeulemeester, Ludovic de Saint Sernin left the company. In May, Bally also announced that then creative director Rhuigi Villaseñor is departing the business after joining in January 2022. Weeks later it appointed Gucci alum Simone Bellotti as its new design director.
Chiapponi joined Tod’s in 2019 from Bottega Veneta, where he worked under Tomas Maier, the former creative director. The Italian designer was initially brought in to modernise the heritage brand and lead the brand’s turnaround. Alessandra Facchinetti, former creative director of the women’s collections, exited the house in 2016. Andrea Incontri, who headed up the menswear department, left in 2019. Chiapponi’s appointment combined men’s and women’s under one designer.
“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 four years and that contributed to this beautiful journey with delicacy, attention, passion and trust,” Chiapponi said in a statement. “Most of all, I thank Diego and Andrea Della Valle who believed in me. Thank you for the courage, humanity and freedom you have given me to express the best version of myself through Tod’s in these years.”
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