Visiting the Tod’s Factory in Marche

When was the last time you were shopping in a store and wondered about where something came from – or even thought to look at the “Made in” tag? I’m not just talking about the vague notion of the country or even the designer’s face that you might recognize from newspapers and magazines; I’m talking about the literally hundreds of hands that were involved in the process from bringing that shirt or pair of shoes from an idea on paper to the selling floor.

We are so disconnected from the supply chain process we generally just see something and the only question we ask ourselves is whether it will look good for brunch on Sunday. But once you know the back story behind something, its history and its personal journey, it becomes that much more special. When you see in person the skilled hands that cut each piece of leather, that hand sew seams, and carefully inspect every single detail before it reaches you, you gain a little respect for the labor and heart involved.

I had an incredible experience and opportunity to visit the Tod’s production facility in Marche, Italy. Tod’s is one of the world’s leaders in the luxury footwear market. With humble beginnings dating back to 1920 when Tod’s was a started in the basement of Dorino Della Valle, Tod’s is now a global brand with over a $1 billion in annual revenue.

What first struck me as I approached the immense factory campus – even before I walked through the doors was the grandiosity of the space. There is a long driveway flanked by an immaculately manicured garden. The entrance could rival the United Nations in terms of scale and impressionability.

But behind the marble veneer of the foyer was a real workshop where nearly all of Tod’s global production takes place. Tod’s does everything from their sample and pattern-making to full scale production in house, which ensures the highest quality standards as the team works closely together on concept to creation.

The day of my visit, Tod’s was working on the production of this sneaker. I watched as the pattern master cut from a swatch of leather, a worker hand stitched the upper with a thread and needle, then another hand apply the sole against a bonding machine and finally press each pair into a heat finisher. Each seam, each detail is pored over before it makes it into an iconic Tod’s orange shoe box.

Tod’s is well known for their leather quality. The leather master himself walked me through the archives and warehouse, where an immense library of hides are stored, to be made into shoes and handbags destined for customers all over the world.

Having an experience like this, one begins to understand why quality demands a price. Tod’s operation is at the height of efficiency and workmanship. The attention to detail and love for product is evident in each step of the process and each worker’s dedication.

For the trip to the factory, I wore the signature Tod’s Gomino Driving Shoes (because how can you show up to Tod’s not wearing Tod’s!?), jeans from Armani Exchange, which I took to the tailor to have cropped so they sported a more suit-like cut. I went for a denim-on-denim look with a slim fit shirt from Reiss, worn the Italian way – with buttons open down the chest. I wanted to keep it somewhat dressy (you never know when you might run into Andrea Della Valle, Tod’s Group Head who was in the office that day) so I threw on a light grey blazer with a pocket square. I wasn’t carrying much, but I brought along a Tod’s tote bag to complete the look.

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