The beloved designer is remastering Tod's iconic designs for a new generation.
Italian luxury brand Tod's has enlisted Alber Elbaz for its Happy Moments capsule collection.
Launching online and in store this July, Happy Moments is the latest offering in the house's Factory project—an initiative named after the New York art studio opened by Andy Warhol in the 1960s which sees Tod's collaborate with a collective of leading designers.
For those still mourning the 2015 departure of Lanvin's beloved, long-standing creative director Alber Elbaz (of which there are many), the collection signals an exciting return.
As the story goes; Tod's chairman Diego Della Valle invited Alber Elbaz over to his home for pasta, and after seeing the Tod's artisans hard at work first-hand, Elbaz decided to design a capsule collection for the heritage brand.
Inspired by happiness, a sentiment Elbaz's designs have long felt aligned to, the spirited designer began his work on the capsule with a series of illustrations. Within his drawings, Elbaz focused on important life moments in which people felt their happiest, and then associated each with an element of the Tod's brand.
ELBAZ'S ILLUSTRATIONS SHOWCASE THE JOY TOD'S ICONIC DESIGNS BRING TO ITS CUSTOMERS' LIVES.
His starting point was the iconic Tod's driving shoe, capturing and transforming its spirit for the next generation. Tod's Happy Moments illustrates the happiness Tod's brings at different times of the day or different moments of life.
Alber Elbaz gave his own spin to Tod's DNA, imagining new contexts for the driving shoes, making them aerodynamic, bright, unstructured or mounted on sneaker soles, and at times, swarming in logos.
ELBAZ REIMAGINES THE TOD'S LOAFERS.
THE DESIGNER'S TAKE ON THE TOD'S SHOPPING BAGS.
Alber Elbaz found ways, by accident, to use neoprene for a dash of tech and metallic finish for a sprinkle of shine. His idea of happiness is all-encompassing, touching everything from the logo to the packaging, from shoes to bags and t-shirts.
THE UPDATED TOD'S MONOGRAM TOTE.
Marking the official unveiling of the new collection, Valle and Elbaz hosted a colourful cocktail party at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris earlier this month.
OLIVIA PALERMO AND HUSBAND JOHANNES HUEBL (LEFT); COCO ROCHA (RIGHT)
Complete with birthday cakes, balloons and a chic guest list that included Olivia Palermo, Coco Rocha, Rachel Zoe and Susie Lau, the party enforced a 'happy' dress code—and attendees obliged.
SUSIE LAU (LEFT); RACHEL ZOE (RIGHT)
WATCH: Hit play on the video below for a first look at the Tod's Happy Moments by Alber Elbaz capsule collection.