Andrew Scott, Rachel Brosnahan, Penn Badgley, and More Toast Craftsmanship at Tods Italian Hands Book Launch [Video]

“Italians do it better.” The age-old adage rang true last night at Tod’s Madison Avenue boutique, where guests gathered to fête the release of Italian Hands—a new 286-page tome celebrating Italy’s most cherished export: craftsmanship. The book, out today, was celebrated in fitting fashion—with peach bellinis, arancini, and a dashing cobbler stitching a pair of suede driving shoes by hand.

Clutching an early copy was Tod’s Group CEO Diego Della Valle, whose nephew, Matteo Procaccioli Della Valle, served as the book’s creative director. While the Tod’s logo graces the cover, not a single branded product appears inside. Instead, Italian Hands showcases portraits of artisans and evocative vignettes of their trades—many of which feel delightfully plucked from another time.

Among the standout profiles: Manuela Cattaneo, the architect behind the 12-room Palazzo Durazzo hotel in Genoa; winemaking siblings Carlo and Leonia Frescobaldi; and a roster of creatives with illustrious surnames—ceramist Lola Schnabel, jeweler Madina Visconti, …