Fendi

Fendi originated in 1925 as a specialist fur and leather workshop in Rome, founded by Adele and Edoardo Fendi. Lagerfeld’s tenure transformed the house’s approach to materials, introducing the double F logo and establishing a ready-to-wear line that challenged the traditional perceptions of luxury fur. Following its acquisition by the LVMH Group in 2002, the brand has expanded its global reach while maintaining its reputation for artisanal excellence.

With Silvia Venturini Fendi overseeing accessories and menswear-including the 1997 creation of the Baguette bag-the house continues to balance its historical expertise with a modern, experimental outlook on materiality and form. The label works across menswear, ready-to-wear, and accessories. Creative direction is currently led by Maria Grazia Chiuri. The business achieved international significance through the leadership of their five daughters and the 1965 appointment of Karl Lagerfeld as creative director. The house’s identity is deeply intertwined with its Roman heritage, currently operating from the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana.

The marriage of extreme technical skill and creative irony defines the house’s treatment of material. Fur and leather are often manipulated to mimic the qualities of light textiles, using intricate hand-stitching and unconventional dyeing techniques to subvert the expectations of weight and texture. This emphasis on craftsmanship is seen in the Selleria line and the continuous innovation in couture fur, where the hand of the Roman artisan remains central to the design process.

A recurring sense of playfulness and subversion permeates the collections, often expressed through unexpected motifs and a bold use of colour. The silhouette is typically sophisticated yet injected with a sense of "fun," reflecting a belief that luxury can be both rigorous and irreverent. By integrating sustainable materials like eco-fur and recycled fabrics into the LVMH framework, the house ensures its heritage of material intelligence evolves to meet contemporary ethical standards while preserving its status as a laboratory for avant-garde craft.