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Performance Luxury
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Michael Toschi, designer
Salvatore Sampino
07/01/2006
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Photography by Cordero Studios/corderostudios.com
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Michael Toschi, designer of high-end leather apparel and footwear, just happens
to have 11 years of motorcycle racing experience under his belt. After
purchasing a new supermoto machine, he realized that he did not have, nor could
he find, a motorcycle jacket with all of the cool qualities that he wanted
combined with the protective features that he needed. Toschi found the typical
CD-grade urethane-coated leather too often used to be stiff and uncomfortable.
So, he chose the best analine-dyed calfskin, added removable shoulder and elbow
armor, torso pads, an adjustable waist, expandable zippered cuffs and an air
mesh lining to produce his ergonomically constructed Moto jacket. He topped off
this handcrafted Italian piece with Italy’s national colors stitched onto the
sleeve as a tribute to his own heritage and to Valentino Rossi’s five-year
MotoGP championship run.
 Michael Toschi designed his riding apparel for a demanding
customer—himself. (Click image to enlarge)
Toschi needed some boots, too. He wanted something that would work on his own
supermoto bike, as well as on most on-/off-road bikes, that would transcend all
attributes found in motorcycle boots. Dissatisfied with the manner in which the
heel was set in relation to the peg of most of the boots he tried, which he
found impossible to walk in, he designed a 45-degree transitional ramp up to the
heel of his Motard boot, lined it with goatskin to minimize sweating, added a
triple fused rubber shift patch and outsole, and a zip entry.
“I am my
perfect target customer,” Toschi admits. “I design what I would like to wear
myself.” His exuberance and his creativity are evident in his lifestyle pieces,
such as the vented Rangel jacket, made of crushed and shrunken lamb with ground
elk horn button accents, and the kid suede Breve shirt, with perforated side
panels for the perfect summer evening.
877-686-7244 | www.toschi.com
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