Storied Foundations
Rich in family legacy and fashion heritage, Fendi has a story to tell behind each creation
Rediscovering the geometric prints and sartorial styling of spring/summer 1986 and the translucent lightness of spring/summer 2000 from the Fendi archives, Kim Jones reconfigured the pieces for Fendi’s fall/winter 2022 collection in a masterful stroke evoking reimagined silhouettes with a fresh perspective. The result is a dramatic expression of strength and softness—a pairing of diaphanous chiffon and woolly bomber jackets, stock shirts tucked into corsets, delicate slip dresses, elbowlength cashmere gloves, sharp tailored suiting—as well as a transformative unison of form and function.
“It’s a wardrobe designed for every aspect of a woman’s life, for every generation,” says artistic director Kim Jones. “And it all started with Delfina.”
He’s of course referring to the fourth-generation Fendi scion Delfina Delettrez Fendi, whose jewellery designs adorned with the Master Key motif is introduced with the collection. Jones’s creativity was spurred on by the appearance of Delettrez Fendi at their Rome headquarters wearing a blouse from the 1986 Memphis collection which was borrowed from her mother Silvia Venturini Fendi’s personal wardrobe, setting the wheels in motion.
Imagining what would look good on a Fendi woman, and what she wants to wear, he only has to look at the quintessential Fendi women themselves— Delfina and Silvia who are by definition the walking and talking archives of the storied Italian maison. The former provides inspiration through what she wears, showing and reactivating collections of the past while the latter provides the inside story of each archival piece, knowing full well the importance of preserving her family’s fashion legacy.
PLAYFUL ALLURE
As the creative director of accessories, menswear and children at Fendi, Silvia Venturini Fendi is behind what is arguably the most iconic bag ever made: the Peekaboo.
Emblematic of the Fendi spirit—and also its creator— the Peekaboo bag strikes the perfect balance between artisanal tradition, experimental spirit and elevated craftsmanship with a playful approach. Named after the game of ‘peek-a-boo!’ the bag is recognisable for its structured silhouette featuring a soft, supple interior revealed by the bag’s unique twist-lock construction.
Since its debut in 2008, the bag has gained cult status and is seen on the arms of countless celebrities such as Rihanna, Amal Clooney and Diane Kruger. Season after season, the bag has also undergone transformation through the use of various luxe materials and the different sizes offered, ranging from large, regular, mini to micro.
Stylishly distinctive, the kind of bag that can hold its own with various personal styles, the Peekaboo has seamlessly transitioned from being an It bag into a genuine classic. “It’s a bag that I consider timeless, and one that will stay in our history forever,” says Venturini Fendi.