Style Edit: Fendi celebrates its 100-year journey, from Rome workshop to global luxury powerhouse, driven by the vision of its matriarchs and collaborations with iconic designers like Karl Lagerfeld

Mar 7 , 2025

A century old this year, Fendi has held many landmark runways, including this historic one presented by Karl Lagerfeld in 2007 at the Great Wall of China. Photo: Handout

Silvia Venturini Fendi created the Baguette bag, whose variations include collabs with Jeff Koons and Francesco Vezzoli; Fendi was also the first luxury house to host a show at the Great Wall of China

This year Italian luxury house Fendi celebrates its 100th anniversary, a major milestone in the brand’s remarkable journey and a chance to honour the past while casting a look towards the future.

Founded in Rome in 1925 by Adele and Edoardo Fendi, the house has blossomed from a small, artisanal fur and leather workshop into a global luxury powerhouse. Its legacy remains deeply rooted: Adele’s avant-garde vision and commitment to exceptional materials and craftsmanship allowed the brand to thrive in the 1940s and 50s. Its expansion was then further fuelled when the couple’s five talented daughters – Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda – joined the family business, bringing an eye for innovation.

Matriarch and visionary: Adele Fendi at the Via Piave boutique in Rome, in the 1930s. Photo: Handout

Another pivotal moment came in 1965 when the house began its iconic collaboration with German designer Karl Lagerfeld, marking the start of the longest creative partnership in fashion history. Over the following 54 years, the house underwent a complete transformation, expanding into the worlds of ready-to-wear, eyewear, watches and couture, all under the watchful eye of Lagerfeld and the five formidable Fendi women.

Famous five: in the 1940s and 50s, the second-generation Fendi sisters brought innovation to the maison. Photo: Handout

Fendi went on to dominate the global stage, showcasing some of the most iconic fashion shows in history. Among them was a spectacular runway held in Tokyo, accompanied by an orchestra and José Carreras. In 2007, Fendi made history again by becoming the first luxury house to host a show at the Great Wall of China.

Silvia Venturini Fendi, a member of the family’s third generation, has played a key role in redefining the brand again in the years since, with her talismanic accessories. In 1997, she created the Baguette bag – a cultural phenomenon and work of art – which has since undergone countless variations, including collaborations with international artists from Jeff Koons to Francesco Vezzoli. Her creativity shone again with the launch of the Peekaboo bag in 2008, inspired by the children’s game of the same name.

Fendi’s leather goods factory in Capannuccia, Tuscany. Photo: Handout

In 2020, another new chapter began when Kim Jones was appointed artistic director of couture and womenswear (He left the brand at the end of last year), while fourth-generation family member Delfina Delettrez Fendi, daughter of Silvia, joined the maison as artistic director of jewellery. Other pioneering initiatives followed, including “Friends of Fendi”, a diverse series of projects and collections, including capsules with fashion luminaries such as Kim Kardashian, Marc Jacobs, Stefano Pilati, Hiroshi Fujiwara and Donatella Versace.

Today Fendi is united by a common thread: a disruptive, pioneering attitude. Its matriarchs – all strong, inspiring women and prominent designers – have built on deep, family connections and core values passed down for generations. Their unwavering commitment to tradition as well as modernity has made Fendi one of the most successful and iconic luxury brands in the world.