For Tod’s Group chairman Diego Della Valle, investing in craftsmanship is a driving principle. It even extends to realms beyond Tod’s HQ. For proof, look to the 286-page book, Italian Hands: Artisanal Stories From Italy. The company published it earlier this summer as a way to spotlight makers at the highest level of their technique, whose rarefied expertise might otherwise be at risk of extinction. But as any luxury executive knows, the work such artisans can do is limited only by the quality of the raw materials on their benches. With the introduction of its new Pashmy collection, Tod’s is aiming to raise the bar on leather sourcing and engineering. The name alone, a nod to cashmere, signals just how soft and silky it is. “Tod’s Pashmy project represents the highest expression of leather selection in terms of lightness and softness, evoking the refinement of pashmina,” says Della Valle, who certainly knows his way around a..
