Fendi honors its century-long legacy with a star-studded show that intertwines family history and exquisite fashion designs.
Milan recently played host to a significant fashion event, marking the centenary celebration of the Fendi brand during Milan Fashion Week. The occasion was characterized by both familial ties and a glamorous showcase of fashion. It started with a unique presentation that included a cameo by Dardo and Tazio, the seven-year-old great-great-grandsons of the house’s founders, Edouardo and Adele Fendi. The twins’ mother, Delfina, a jewellery designer, contributed to the collection by creating the snake chain bracelets and shimmering fountain earrings featured in the show. Their grandmother, Silvia Venturini Fendi, served as the evening’s master of ceremonies while holding titles as the artistic director of accessories and menswear.
The Fendi brand has been under the ownership of LVMH since they purchased it. In an interview backstage, Silvia stated, “So I’m not here because I own it – I don’t. But nothing changed for me when we sold. This is still my home.” This sentiment established the emotional ambiance of the evening, which attracted over a thousand guests and presented more than a hundred new outfits set to hit the market soon. The guest list included iconic British models such as Yasmin Le Bon and Penelope Tree, who are 60 and 75 years old, respectively.
The event was not solely focused on business but was infused with sentimentality, as the role of womenswear designer remains vacant following Kim Jones’s departure last year. Recruitment for a new designer has been paused during this centenary celebration to honor the legacy of the Fendi family during such a significant milestone.
A standout feature of the event was the anniversary collection, which reflected a rich history of the brand and was set to the tunes of Barry White. The runway was adorned with a brick red carpet reminiscent of the Rome atelier where Silvia spent time as a child while her mother, Anna, worked long hours. “I went there a lot because my mother was working very long hours, and she didn’t have a driving licence,” she recounted.
Silvia articulated the essence of the show as “Fendi-ness,” describing it as “something alchemic” and emphasizing an obsession with quality, luxury, lightheartedness, and a celebration of remarkable women. The collection featured garments deeply rooted in fashion history, including grand coats and exquisite evening dresses in soft Chantilly lace adorned with delicate sequins and ribbed knit dresses that gracefully transitioned into lettuce hems.
Invitations to the show were crafted as luxurious accordion-style leather-bound photo albums, showcasing tiny black-and-white portraits of a five-year-old Silvia alongside a 1960s photograph of her mother and her four sisters—Paola, Franca, Carla, and Alda—standing in the Rome atelier with their signature beehive hairstyles. Through this thoughtful presentation, Silvia aimed to evoke a sense of nostalgia and rich memories, steering clear of a mere archival review.
Source: Noah Wire Services
