Why fashion designer Alber Elbaz is happy to be back in the spotlight with Tod’s collaboration
The former Lanvin designer’s ‘happy moments’-inspired collection – launching globally on Wednesday – also features in a pop-up exhibition at Landmark Atrium in Hong Kong
Fans of Alber Elbaz, rejoice! The former Lanvin designer is back in the limelight with a capsule collection for Italian leather goods powerhouse Tod’s that drops in Hong Kong on Wednesday – together with a pop-up exhibition of the creative’s sketches and artworks that has led to the new collection.
Shoes are like the new cars; they take us places we want to get to
The Alber Elbaz x Tod’s collaboration is the latest from Tod’s new T Factory after the inaugural capsule by Italian designer Alessandro Dell’Aqua. T Factory is a new initiative, launched by the brand last September – a lab to test and try new ideas and collaborations.
When Tod’s chairman Diego Della Valle first broached the collaboration with Elbaz, the fashion designer wasn’t quite sure what role he could play.
“I thought I would play supernanny for a while: I would say what I see and I would say what I feel,” Elbaz said at a Paris launch for the collection last week, adding that his attention had first been caught by the Italian shoemaker’s sneakers.
“I always remember my gym trainer telling me, ‘Alber, you have the mind of an athlete, but unfortunately, you don’t have the body of an athlete!’ But I can understand the need for sneakers in today’s speedy world. Shoes are like the new cars; they take us places we want to get to.”
I wanted to inject some happy moments in the fashion world because we are the industry that creates dreams for men and women around the world, but I saw that many of you are not happy, too
Hence the new capsule was born: a colourful selection of bags and shoes that are a playful adaptation of Tod’s sneakers and the brand’s iconic Gomminos.