MILAN (Reuters) - Tod's (MI:TOD) appointed Walter Chiapponi as creative director of its eponymous brand starting from its Autumn-Winter 2020/21 collections, the Italian shoes and leather goods maker said on Thursday.
The group, best known for its Gommino loafers, has been struggling to rejuvenate its brands, which include Hogan, Fay and Roger Vivier, in an effort to boost sluggish sales.
Chiapponi will be able "to combine Tod's Italian lifestyle with a touch of modernity, without ever losing sight of the high quality and craftsmanship that represents the brand's DNA," Tod's Chairman Diego Della Valle said in a statement.
After a period at Givenchy in Paris, Chiapponi, 41, returned to Italy in 2007 to work for brands such as Valentino, Gucci and Prada's (HK:1913) Miu Miu and Bottega Veneta, where he was design director until June.
As part of its revamping efforts, Tod's in February hired former Bottega Veneta CEO Carlo Alberto Beretta as general manager for the brand.