SimplyAbuDhabi XII

The Sella Bag took its design cue from a dressage horse saddle. It is fashioned from a single strip of leather gently curved like a saddle, complete with tubular stitching to ape the curve of a thoroughbred’s back, sinuous and clean. Metal details reference bridles with their joints and brass rings. Now it’s undergone a reworking for the latest season. The brand has called on contemporary artist and photographer David LaChapelle to bring a ‘pop’ angle to the traditional, equestrian vibe. “The values of quality and craftsmanship have always been part of Tod's DNA,” says Diego, still the group’s CEO, “but we wanted to express them in a completely new and unusual way. That’s why we called on David LaChapelle, an artist whose work I have long admired, to interpret the idea of saddlery with a ‘Pop Touch’.” LaChapelle manages to interweave traditional saddlery and heritage with bright colour and surreal modern twists. Craftsmanship sits comfortably alongside cutting edge design. The effect is perfectly captured by his photo shoot campaign that deploys theatrical scenery and sketches that create an atmospheric, dreamlike world. “This idea came about because looking at the history of the company and its craftsmanship, it just suggested the world of saddlery,” says David LaChapelle. “The joy I get out of my work is all to do with the fun of the collaborative process and the creativity – for this project, the set, and working with all of the talented people who made it happen, that process, that moment of creation – it all equals the beauty of the single finished image.” 2 1 2 S I M P LY A B U DH A B I