Diego Della Valle has big plans for Tod’s expansion – and he’s hired Alessandra Facchinetti to realise them for him.

It was announced yesterday that the designer has left Uniqueness, the Pinko label which she’d worked on since 2011, and today – aptly, as gets into full swing – has come the confirmation as to why.

‘This is a project about luxury and culture. It’s the right moment to further boost our products that are made in Italy, with a top designer,’ said Della Valle, CEO of the Tod's SpA group. ‘She is an excellent Italian designer who knows about Made in Italy. Her being Italian is an added asset, not a secondary one.’

Facchinetti built her name at , and briefly helmed Valentino immediately following its eponymous founder’s retirement. And, she confessed to WWD, she is raring to go with her new Tod’s appointment.

‘It’s a great opportunity and a challenge,’ she said. ‘I feel very confident; there are many elements that we share. I’ve always worked for companies paying attention to quality and luxury.”

She succeeds Derek Lam, with a broader remit across all of Tod’s ready-to-wear lines. The brief? ‘Exclusivity is everything.’ Watch this space.