If there ever was a time where the next generation of young talent needed support from luxury brands, it’s now.
How Tod’s and Central Saint Martins are Supporting the Creatives of Tomorrow
If there ever was a time where the next generation of young talent needed support from luxury brands, it’s now. Tod’s Group has partnered with London fashion institution Central Saint Martins on an initiative involving its students, titled Tod’s Legacy, to kick off London Fashion Week with the unveiling of a special project.
Working closely with Fabio Piras, course director of CSM’s prestigious MA fashion program, 35 designers have taken part in the project via Tod’s Academy, a collaboration launched with the college in 2020. With scholarships provided by the group, as well as mentorship from industry heavyweights such as Irish designer Simone Rocha, gallerist Carla Sozzani, and international editor at large for Vogue Hamish Bowles, students are given the opportunity to explore the Italian brand’s heritage through their personal lenses. “In addition to it being a great pleasure for us, I believe that it is the duty of all relevant companies of this world to help young creatives,” says Diego Della Valle, chairman of Tod’s Group.
Here, Vogue spoke to six students to find out more about their projects, how they’ve identified with the Tod’s brand, and how it’s been applied to their practice, as well as their hopes for the future of fashion in an ever-changing world.
Vivien Canadas, 26, MA fashion womenswear
French designer Vivien Canadas describes himself as “a researcher where the garment is a medium of exploration”. Mentored by Vanity Fair Italia's editor-in-chief Simone Marchetti and inspired by Italian culture as well as its sophisticated approach to gastronomy, Canadas creates sculptural and distinctly elegant pieces with a bit of humor.
Describe your project for Tod’s and what inspired it.
This story originally appeared on: Vogue - Author:Alex Kessler
