One of the world’s most coveted fur fashion brands, Fendi, recently celebrated its hundredth-year anniversary celebration, marking a major milestone in the history of the luxury clothing industry. Founded by Adele and Edoardo Fendi in the Eternal City of Rome back in 1925, Fendi started out as a leather and fur atelier with a single boutique. The brand shortly gained significant recognition and was steered by the couple’s five daughters, Anna, Carla, Franca, Alda, and Paola. Fendi reached a critical juncture in 1965 when the sisters appointed Karl Lagerfeld as the head designer. This resulted in what proved to be the fashion world’s longest collaboration between a designer and a Maison, spanning fifty-four years.
It is during these golden years that Fendi emerged as a global stalwart with product launches that became cult favourites. Karl Lagerfeld’s contribution to Fendi’s success also includes the brand’s signature double F logo, which refers to “Fun Furs” instead of the brand name’s initial, as misunderstood by many.
However, when the conversation is around Fendi’s history, another iconic persona behind the brand’s glory is Silvia Venturini Fendi, the daughter of Anna Fendi. She is not only the only member of the family currently working for the company but also the one responsible for the cult favourite Fendi Baguette Bag. Sarah Jessica Parker popularised the design in the show Sex and the City, with her dialogue, “It’s not a bag—it’s a Baguette!” when held at gunpoint by a snatcher. At Fendi’s 100-year anniversary fashion show, the Hollywood star showed up with an iteration of the same. The Fendi Peekaboo Bag is another cult classic that is a key example of Venturini’s design excellence.
One of the world’s most popular hobo bags is the Fendi Croissant, which is as fresh as timeless. From calf leather to crochet and more, much like the brand’s other signature designs, the Croissant is available in multiple colours and materials. The versatility of design is also what makes Fendi a legendary brand that keeps up with the times and its varying sensibilities. Even though many of their silhouettes have been termed as forever ‘it’ bags, the luxury Italian fashion house keeps things fresh with modern iterations.
A century in, Fendi is still at the helm of the industry, serving style and impeccable Italian craftsmanship. The recent fashion show that was held to celebrate Fendi’s 100th anniversary paid tribute to the Maison’s three generations of maternal lineage with furs, muted tones, tailored dresses, and more. The showcase included archival as well as modern designs, worn by the fashion world’s top models like Adriana Lima, Yasmin Le Bon, Eva Herzigová, and Karen Elson. More than a fashion show, it was a homage to a hundred years of perseverance and cementing the past and future legacy of Fendi.
