Permanent designer of the fashion house Fendi - Karl Lagerfeld

Fendi- the famous Italian fashion house, founded by the couple Eduardo Fendi and Adele Fendi.

History

When the Italians Eduardo Fendi and Adele Fendi in 1925 focused on high quality and hand-finishing in their products, the couple did not fail. Very quickly, the Roman public appreciated the elegance and exclusivity of the products, and buyers began to flock to the Fendi store.

In 1932, the couple made a bet on fashionable fur and again made the right decision. The first fur salon, where elegant styles of fur coats of consistently excellent quality were offered to customers, became not only popular, but, in general, began to be considered the standard of elegant Italian style.

Eduardo and Adele were lucky again when their children were given the desire to continue the family business. Five daughters continued to develop the best traditions of the Fendi house, choosing their own specialization. So, Paola controlled the dressing of furs, Anna was responsible for new products, Alda dealt with financial issues, Carla developed a strategy to strengthen the position of the fashion brand in the market, and Franca was engaged in what we now call PR - she was a public relations specialist.

In 1955, the first collection of leather and fur products saw the light of day. The sisters were praised - they managed to win the hearts of the Italians. However, the ambitious plans of business ladies went far beyond Italy, so they invited the famous fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld to work for them. And they were right again - thanks to Karl, the brand became known all over the world.

Fendi: autumn-winter 2013-2014

Karl Lagerfeld set the tone for the brand, focusing on fur and leather products. He, so to speak, "ennobled" styles, enriched products with flowers and began to boldly combine different types of fur. With his light hand, chic bulky fur coats turned into light and elegant, and this is exactly what women longed to see them, who dreamed more of youth and beauty than of solidity. The color palette fascinated with its diversity.

But Karl did not stop there. He continued to improve the style and products, introducing innovative details that markedly distinguished the products of the fashion house from others.

It should be noted that the success of the Fendi brand was due not only to Karl's creativity, but also to the innovative approach of Paola Fendi, who vigilantly followed the latest achievements in the light industry and provided Karl with a huge range of fabrics from which he could, without limiting his imagination, create fashionable masterpieces.

At the beginning of the 70s, Karl developed the Pret-a-Porte class of women's clothing, as well as a line of fashion accessories.

Cruise collection 2013 - 70s inspiration

In the 80s, there was a significant expansion of the activities of the fashion house. Until that time, the target audience of the House was a wealthy public, consisting of wealthy people from 30 years old. However, in the 80s, the company's management relies on the "golden youth" by launching the "Fendissimo" youth line. In parallel with it, the furniture line “Fendi Casa” was launched. 1984 marks the beginning of the production of fashionable jeans, scarves and sunglasses. A year later, a perfume line appears. Its flagship was the eponymous fragrance "Fendi". The perfumery activity did not end there - five years later, a novelty was presented to the public - the fragrance "Fantasia". In 1996 “Life Essence” appeared, two years later “Theorema”. The beginning of the 21st century was marked by the release of the Theorema Uomo fragrance (2001) and so on.

In 1990, for the first time in its 65-year history, Fendi develops a menswear line.

In the 90s, Prada and LVMH buy out 51% of the shares of the popular fashion house. Later, the entire controlling stake passes to LVMH. Fendi today

Currently, Karl Lagerfeld remains the designer of the women's clothing line of the fashion house. Silvia Fendi is in charge of menswear and accessories.

Since 1999, the company has been part of the French holding LVMH.

The headquarters of the fashion house Fendi is located in Rome.

Today, the Fendi fashion house is thriving. More than 100 branded stores of the brand are open and successfully operate all over the world. Despite all the crises, Fendi successfully dresses fashionistas and fashionistas, delighting its fans with new collections every season.

Products

Currently, the following products are produced under the Fendi brand:

• leather and fur products;
• men's clothing (jeans, ties, scarves, gloves are especially popular);
• women's clothing;
• women's accessories (bags, clutches, travel bags - colored leather products, hand-trimmed by craftsmen and released in a limited series);
• shoes;
• wrist watch (joint project with a Swiss watch manufacturer);
• glasses (including sunglasses);
• men's and women's perfumery;
• branded stationery (the order was carried out by the manufacturer of stationery products Cross);
• lighters.

Fendi sunglasses, 2013

• Already in the 70s, Fendi products began to be sold not only in Europe, but also in the USA and Japan. Today, Fendi has more than 160 stores in 25 countries.
• One of the mottos of the company is excellent fur coats for a reasonable price. Obviously, the slogan does not lose its relevance today.
• The logo of the fashion house is a double letter, which symbolizes the unity of the Fendi family.
• For some time, the famous American rapper Kanye West (Kanye West) appeared in public with the Fendi logo shaved on his head. It is still unknown whether this was a demonstration of brand loyalty or a promotion.
• In 1978, an important event dedicated to the 60th anniversary of the fashion house was organized in Rome. The National Gallery of Modern Art hosted the exhibition “Fendi - Karl Lagerfeld, a working story”, which showed the illustrated process of creating fashion collections.
• A kind of record was set by the creative director of Fendi Silvia Venturini Fendi, under whose leadership one of the most popular bags in the world Baguette was created. Women liked it so much that the bag began to be produced in more than 600 versions, using a variety of materials and colors.
• Fendi designers have designed costumes for such famous films as "The Godfather" (third part), "Once Upon a Time in America", "La Traviata". Needless to say, this only increased interest in the brand.
• For the 80th anniversary of the fashion house in Rome, the Fendi Palace - Palazzo Fendi was opened. The new building houses studios, ateliers and, of course, the world's largest brand store.

Links

• Fendi, social network for fashionistas Relook.ru
• Fendi, 100aromatov.ru

Fendi is a world famous brand, the benchmark of classic Italian fashion. It specializes in the production of clothing, leather and fur products, accessories and perfumes.

Fendi was founded in 1925 in Rome by a young married couple, Adele and Eduardo Fendi. In post-war Italy, their fur and leather tailoring business became so successful that in 1932 the couple opened the first fur salon. The most skilled craftsmen worked for the spouses, so those who wanted to look good sought to buy Fendi. Due to the high quality of handmade products, the product has become wildly popular among local residents. For the Roman bourgeoisie, a trip to the “Fendi on the Plebicio” became a kind of sign of prestige.

Fendi sales grew from year to year, and soon the goods of the Italian brand become known not only in Rome, but also far beyond its borders. In 1932, the Fendi family business expands: a store opens in a lively area of ​​Venice, on Via Piave. The Fendi brand becomes synonymous with taste and style.

Gradually, the small Fendi shop grew into a large enterprise specializing in the production of leather and fur products.

All five daughters of Adele and Eduardo (Paola, Carla, Anna, Franca and Alda) began to gradually join the family business. Subsequently, they will stand at the head of the company, dividing duties equally.

In the mid-60s, the Italian trading house began cooperation with the young designer Karl Lagerfeld, who changed the style of the company's fur production. Gradually, Lagerfeld turned bulky and heavy fur coats into light and comfortable outerwear. At this time, the company's logo was created - the famous "FF", which was also invented by the famous couturier.

The first fur coat collection created by Karl Lagerfeld was presented in 1966 and was a huge success. The best representatives of the fashion market paid attention to the talented young designer. From that time to the present day, the Italian brand has occupied a leading position in European fur production.

A few years after its founding, Fendi begins mass production of fur products. The motto of the company - excellent fur coats for a reasonable price - is relevant to this day. Therefore, Fendi's prices, although quite high, are quite justified: after all, customers are offered luxury products. Hollywood stars and representatives of royal dynasties defile in fur coats from Fendi.

The brand is known not only for its excellent fur coats, but also for equally presentable leather products, in particular, bags. Buying Fendi bags, starting from the 70s of the last century, has become possible not only in Italy and other European countries, but also in the USA and Japan.

In 1977, Fendi presented the first collection of pret-a-porter ("ready to wear") to the audience, which caused great delight. Gradually, the company begins to further expand its range: in 1984, the Fendi collections are replenished with such goods as ties, gloves, jeans, glasses, pens, lighters.

The following year, a significant event for the brand took place. The National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome (National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome) opened its doors for an event dedicated to the brand's sixtieth anniversary and twenty years of collaboration with Karl Lagerfeld. The exhibition “Fendi - Karl Lagerfeld, a working story” illustrated the entire creative and technical process of creating collections.

A decade later, the first women's perfume, Fendi, appeared almost immediately. The men's fragrance "Fendi Uomo", introduced in 1989, was no less successful.

A few years later, the Selleria line took on a second life. It was executed with the same methods and in the same style as under Adele Fendi. Clutches, travel bags and small leather accessories made of colored leather, hand-finished by craftsmen, came out in a limited edition.

In 1997, the creativity of Silvia Venturini Fendi, Creative Director of the Fashion House, led to the creation of the Baguette bag.

The success of this little handbag, to be carried under the arm like the French bread of the same name, has been enormous. It began to be produced in more than 600 versions, from unusual materials and various colors. In just a few seasons, the bag has become a cult object of desire for all world fashionistas. Following the Baguette bag, with the light hand of Silvia, the Spy bag (Spy) also appeared in 2005, and in 2006 - the B FENDI bag.

An interesting fact is that the brand's clothes are popular not only on the catwalks and in everyday life, but also on the set. At different times, the company's designers developed costumes for such famous films as "La Traviata", "Once Upon a Time in America", "The Godfather" (third part) and many others. This also greatly contributed to the popularity of the brand and increase in sales of Fendi.

Fendi women's clothing collections, despite their chic, are very restrained. Accessories are always well thought out: Fendi sunglasses, gloves and belts are strictly classic. Nothing superfluous, only peace and nobility. In 1990, the Fendi empire finally releases a collection of clothes for men. Now the stronger sex has the opportunity to appreciate the classics of the Fendi style.

The Fendi signature bag has also changed its appearance in favor of practicality. The place of solid models was taken by soft, unstructured, bright handbags, as if woven from leather.

Fendi is majority owned by the LVMH alliance (Moët Hennessy. Louis Vuitton S.A). The decision to sell the company to the Fendi sisters was made back in 1999. The collaboration opened Fendi flagship stores in Paris and London. In 2001, the LVMH Group bought back shares in Prada and the following year acquired shares in Fendi, becoming the sole controlling shareholder in 2004.

But this does not prevent the brand from delighting its fans with new collections and remaining true to its style.

In 2005, the fashion house FENDI celebrated its eightieth anniversary. In this connection, Palazzo FENDI (FENDI Palace) was opened in Rome. This new building in the heart of Rome combines studios, fur tailors and the world's largest FENDI store.

October 19, 2007 the world saw a grand show from FENDI - the first fashion show on the Great Wall of China. 88 models participated in the show. The catwalk was one of the longest in the history of fashion shows, 88 meters (8 is considered a lucky number in China).

On February 29, 2008, in Paris, on the occasion of the opening of 22 FENDI stores at 22 Avenue Montaigne, a private concert was held for an audience of 400 guests by five-time Grammy Award winner Amy Winehouse.

The guests were celebrities such as Rihanna, Sofia Coppola, Kanye West, Claudia Schiffer, Jessica Alba and Milla Jovovich.

FENDI currently has over 160 stores in 25 countries.

In Rome, at the age of 81, the famous Italian fashion designer Carla Fendi, who for many years determined the development strategy of the world famous Fendi group, died.

The deceased recently suffered a serious lung disease. The other day, Fendi was discharged from the hospital and returned to her Roman residence - the famous Palazzo Ruspoli.

The fourth of the Fendi sisters, Carla until the last days of her life remained the honorary president of the Fendi group, founded by her parents in 1925. This company became a truly unique phenomenon in the world of Italian haute couture, since in the early 1950s five sisters stood at its helm - Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda.

"Our mother said: you are like five fingers on the hand, each has its own role," Carla liked to repeat.

Paola became a fur expert, Anna a designer, Franca a PR specialist, Alda a commercial director of the brand, and Carla was virtually in charge of all the current affairs of the fashion house, focusing on the company's development strategy and its penetration into foreign markets, primarily , in USA.

One of the key decisions of Carla and her sisters was the invitation to the fashion house of a young German designer, who for many years became the art director of the Fendi brand. It was thanks to his creative imagination that fur clothes and leather accessories of this brand acquired unexpected, bright colors and immediately attracted the attention of fashionistas all over the world.

In 1966, Lagerfeld also came up with the famous logo of the fashion house - two letters F, one of which is upside down.

The very first collection of Fendi fur coats, which Karl introduced in 1966, was a resounding success. Since then, Fendi fur coats have become a symbol of luxury and a beautiful life and have received a pass not only to noble receptions, but also to the best film sets in the country: Fendi created fur coats for Silvana Mangano in the film "Family Portrait in the Interior" by Luchino Visconti and Isabelle Huppert's outfits in "The True Story of the Lady of the Camellias".

Thanks to the efforts of the sisters Fendi and Lagerfeld, the fashion house Fendi in the 1980s became one of the world leaders in the creation of fashionable clothes, leather and fur products, accessories and perfumes. However, in 1999 the group became part of the LVMH holding (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy S.A) and the Fendi sisters lost their leadership role in the company.

This turn of events allowed Carla Fendi to devote almost all of her time and energy to supporting various undertakings in the field of culture and art. Soon she became a recognized philanthropist in the Apennines, and in 2007 she founded the Carla Fendi Foundation, the main goal of which was the development of artistic traditions in art, literature, cinema, and fashion.

The funds of the fund went, in particular, to organize the world-famous musical "Festival of Two Worlds" in the city of Spoleto, to support the National Academy of St. Cecilia and to implement a number of large-scale restoration projects.

Fendi

Fendi is majority owned by the LVMH (Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy S.A.) alliance. The decision to sell the company was made in 1999. The collaboration opened Fendi flagship stores in Paris and London. In 2001, the LVMH Group bought Prada shares, the following year acquired Fendi shares, and in 2004 became the sole controlling shareholder.

In 2005, Fendi Fashion House celebrated its eightieth anniversary. In connection with the event, the Palazzo Fendi (Palace of Fendi) in Rome was opened. The new building combines studios, fur tailors and the world's largest Fendi store.

October 19, 2007 the world saw a grand show from Fendi - the first fashion show on the Great Wall of China. 88 models participated in the show. The catwalk was one of the longest fashion shows in history - 88 meters (8 is considered a lucky number in China).

On February 29, 2008, in Paris, on the occasion of the opening of 22 Fendi stores at 22 Avenue Montaigne, a private concert of the five-time Grammy Award winner took place for an audience of 400 guests.

Fendi currently has over 160 stores in 25 countries.

Fendi is one of the most famous Italian fashion houses that specializes in the production of accessories, wardrobe items, cosmetics, perfumes, as well as leather and fur products.

The history of the brand dates back to 1918, when an aspiring entrepreneur, Adele Casagrande, came up with the idea to open her own shop selling leather and fur wardrobe attributes.

The outlet is conveniently located on Via del Plebitsio, almost in the very center. However, the world-famous name of the brand appeared only seven years later, in 1925, when Casagrande married Eduardo Fendi. After changing the maiden name, it was decided to rename the store as "Fendi".

The family business slowly began to flourish and develop, and already in 1932 the second boutique was opened by Signora Fendi. This time, Via Piave was chosen as the location of the outlet.

The protracted World War II had a detrimental effect on the fate of the nascent brand, and therefore, at its end, the two stores that had temporarily stopped functioning began to recover rapidly. All five daughters of Adele Fendi enthusiastically joined in the revival of the family business, distributing various responsibilities among themselves: someone became responsible for dressing fur, someone tried himself as a designer, someone began to deal with reporting.

It was the Fendi sisters who in the early 1960s made a fateful decision for the brand - the conclusion of a contract with a novice and very extravagant German fashion designer and designer - Karl Lagerfeld (Karl Otto Lagerfeld).

Karl Lagerfeld in the fate of the brand

After a dizzying success in the competition of young fashion designers in 1955, the then-unknown German youth with a hard-to-pronounce surname, Lagerfeld, fell on the first rays of fame.

Despite the fact that Yves Saint Laurent won the competition, Karl Lagerfeld still received several lucrative offers to start cooperation. Thus, by 1963, a novice, but very promising designer, worked immediately with four successfully developing fashion houses, including Fendi.

It was Lagerfeld who came up with the idea of ​​the legendary brand logo with two inverted "F" letters. However, the development of the logo is not the only merit of the fashion genius. It was with the advent of Karl in Fendi that sweet era of heyday came in it.

The very first collection of light, almost flying fur coats from a new creative designer, presented to the public in 1966, resonated in the hearts of fashionistas of that time. It was after this fashion show that Fendi fur coats became a new symbol of chic and presentability, automatically turning into a pass to exquisite celebrations and events, noble receptions.

Iconic Baguette

For the first time, the world learned about the legendary Baguette bag in 1997, after the presentation of a new collection at the next one. This accessory was something unusual and extravagant, unusual for the sophisticated public.

The bag, according to its idea, resembled a French baguette: rectangular, oblong, small in size. It should be worn under the arm, forgetting about the existence of handles and long straps.

Despite its considerable age - 19 years old, this bag model remains one of the main bestsellers in the global fashion market to this day. Magazines regularly include it in the lists of the most relevant accessories, designers do not stop talking about its uniqueness and versatility, and fashionistas from all over the world dream of getting this expensive wardrobe item.

Fendi today

Fendi today is no longer just a network of fashion boutiques scattered throughout Rome and owned by the same family, it is part of a large alliance of Louis Vuitton Moët Hennessy S.A., which bought a controlling stake in the company in the early 2000s.

In connection with the 80th anniversary of the fashion house, in 2005, the grand opening of Palazzo Fendi took place in Rome.

This impromptu Palace combines two studios at once. The first is an elite atelier for tailoring products from natural fur and leather, the second is the largest mono-boutique. The building is located at the following address: Via di Fontanella Borghese, 48, 00186.

Internet

In addition to shopping centers and mono-boutiques, Fendi items can also be purchased in online online stores:

New office in the Quad Coliseum

In October 2015, the Fendi fashion house changed its location, moving to the famous Colosseo Quadrato. Restoration work to prepare the building took almost two years, and during this time a tremendous amount of work was done. Renowned contemporary designer Mario Nanni took full responsibility for the new design of the company's headquarters. It was they who came up with the idea to use such interesting decor elements as innovative lighting in the new studios of the boutique studio. Also, thanks to Fendi, the Colosseum has an all-glass penthouse on the top floor.

The new office of the fashion house is currently located at Piazzale delle Nazioni Unite 37.

Sophisticated modern city style

Currently, the fashion house Fendi is developing collections not only for women, but also for men, and even for children. The clothes of this brand are distinguished by high practicality, but at the same time sophistication. Street style has long been established in the concepts of many modern fashion houses, and Fendi is not far behind in this regard.

The latest collections of the brand combine several important qualities: the simplicity and convenience of casual style, as well as the luxury and sophistication of Hollywood, which is manifested in small details. This allows Fendi to remain as relevant and in demand as possible in the crazy pace of life of a modern metropolis.

The spring-summer 2017 collection is somewhat out of the general concept of the brand. This time, the designers decided to completely abandon the traditional fur elements in clothing, instead opting for light and weightless materials - chiffon and silk. In the images of the coming season, a mixture of two diametrically opposed styles was clearly visible: sports and romantic.

How to distinguish a fake Fendi bag from the original?

Bags from Fendi are considered one of the most sought after, and therefore they are increasingly becoming targets for replica manufacturers. How not to get lost in all this variety of fake things and not be deceived by purchasing a low-quality thing? Below are some actionable tips for you.

It should be noted right away that distinguishing an original Fendi from a fake is much more problematic than things from other brands, but there are a number of nuances that you should pay attention to:

The quality of the leather used

Fendi bags are famous for their high-quality materials, so to check the authenticity of a particular model, you can first make sure of its quality. Genuine leather always easily takes its original shape, and therefore you can slightly wrinkle the bag, thereby checking for dents and other defects on it.

Small items and decorations

The creators of fakes often save on such elements of the bag as zippers, fasteners or rivets. Therefore, if you notice strange roughness, rust and other imperfections in the store, you can be sure that this is not the original.

Straight lines

"Went" or "floated" seams are also not a guarantee of quality.

Logo

A clear and easily visible company logo should be embossed on the lining of the bag.

1. The brand is actively involved in charity work. So, in 2015, one of the main attractions of Italy, was restored with the funds raised by the company. It was also decided to hold an anniversary show in 2016 and present a new collection of clothes here. To organize the event, a special glass bridge was erected in the middle of the fountain, along which the models walked. Everything that happened was striking in its beauty and scope. So, when viewed from above, it seemed that the girls were walking not on the podium, but on the water. Among the models who took part in the show were such celebrities as the sisters Hadid and Kendall Gener.
2. Today, Fendi has over 160 stores in 25 countries.
3. On the occasion of the opening of the brand's new store in Paris at 22 Avenue Montaigne in February 2008, the famous singer Amy Winehouse gave a private concert.
4. In 2007, the brand's new collection was shown on the Great Wall of China.
5. The famous American rapper, Kanye West, arrived at one of the secular parties with the brand logo shaved on his temple.

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She made a huge contribution to the development of the Fendi brand.
This company became a truly unique phenomenon in the world of Italian haute couture, since in the early 1950s five sisters stood at its helm - Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda. But it was Carla who remained the face of the house in the business environment, holding the position of honorary president.

“Our mother said: you are like five fingers on the hand”
The Fendi brand dates back to 1925, when Adele Casagrande married Edoardo Fendi and the young couple opened a small leather and fur shop in the heart of Rome. The family occupied the rooms directly above it, and set up a workshop in the back. The newlyweds quickly had children, between 1931 and 1940 five girls were born: Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda. They soaked up the air of the atelier from birth. Adele put them to bed in lace-lined cradles in the midst of freshly sewn bags and scraps of leather. Carla Fendi recalled her childhood: "Pieces of leather and small accessories from it were our first toys." It is not surprising that all five daughters gradually joined the family business. The eldest, Paola, was 15 years old when she started working in the workshop.
The family business slowly began to flourish and develop, and already in 1932 Signora Fendi opened a second boutique. This time, Via Piave was chosen as the location of the outlet. In 1933, Adele, who even before her marriage owned a leather workshop where saddles and travel bags were made, came up with a special dressing of leather. Pergamena - as it was called - was distinguished by a special dyeing method that gave it a natural yellow hue, which eventually became the brand's signature color.
The war had a detrimental effect on the fate of the nascent brand, but after it ended, the two stores that had temporarily stopped functioning began to recover rapidly. All five daughters of Adele Fendi enthusiastically joined in the revival of the family business, distributing various responsibilities among themselves.
“Our mother said: you are like five fingers on the hand, each has its own role,” Carla liked to repeat. And it was true. Paola became a fur expert, Anna became a designer, Franca became a public relations specialist, Alda became the brand's commercial director, and Carla actually handled all the day-to-day affairs of the fashion house.

Fur industry leader
One of the key decisions of Carla and her sisters was the invitation to the fashion house of a young German designer Karl Lagerfeld, who for many years became the art director of the brand. He recalls, not without irony, his first visit to Fendi: “My long hair was covered with a Cerruti hat. His eyes were hidden behind dark glasses. I was dressed in an English hunting-style coat of wool with a large red and yellow check, a colorful scarf adorned my neck. Today, this view would be considered strange. The world of that time was completely different, it was a completely different planet. Not at all what we know today."
Lagerfeld came up with the idea for the brand's legendary logo with two inverted "F" letters. However, the development of the logo is not the only merit of the fashion genius. With the advent of Karl in Fendi, that sweet era of heyday came in it. The very first collection of light, almost flying fur coats from a new creative designer, presented to the public in 1966, resonated in the hearts of fashionistas of that time. After this fashion show, Fendi fur coats became a new symbol of chic and presentability, automatically turning into a pass to exquisite celebrations and events, noble receptions. “The recognition of the family began with the phrase “My husband bought me a fur coat,” says Lagerfeld about the lifestyle of the Italians of those years.
It was thanks to his creative imagination that fur clothes and leather accessories of this brand acquired unexpected, bright colors. With the full consent of the sisters, the fashion designer completely changed the concept of the house. Fendi began to make light, soft, luxurious coats, capes, coats, fur coats and jackets, expressing a rapidly changing lifestyle. The atelier began to actively search for new materials and explore techniques for processing leather and fur. The results led to a real revolution. Furs appeared in the collections, which were not previously considered luxurious. Masters tried new methods of dyeing, tanning; fur began to be cut like a fabric, knit, make inlays out of it. Today Fendi is a recognized leader in the fur industry.
Later, the brand became famous for its baguette bags, ready-to-wear line, fragrances, children's and men's clothing and accessories, as well as collections of interior items and even a boutique hotel in Rome, opened in 2015. In 2001, the Fendi brand joined the French concern LVMH - Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy S.A. Since that time, Carla Fendi has remained the honorary president of the fashion house. The Fendi network has more than 160 stores in 25 countries. In 2011, the company reported more than $1 billion in profits. Notable fans of the Fendi brand include singer Rihanna, actress Sarah Jessica Parker, model Jordan Dunn, fashion blogger Leandra Medin, and sculptor Rachel Feinstein. The famous American rapper Kanye West somehow arrived at one of the secular parties with the brand logo shaved on his temple.
One of the most expensive items produced by the house of Fendi was a fur coat from the Fendi couture collection of 2015, which was valued at $1 million. It was included in the debut collection, prepared for the 50th anniversary of Karl Lagerfeld as creative director of the fashion house. The fur coat was created from the rarest type of sable fur, which the craftsmen covered with silver, obtaining a metallic effect.

art collection
In 1960, Carla married the pharmacist Candido Speroni, with whom she lived all her life. The husband soon joined the Fendi family business. And it was Candido who largely influenced the formation of his wife's extraordinary love for art. He introduced her to the work of the Expressionist group "Scuola Romana" (it existed from 1928 to 1945, restored for a short time in the mid-50s). And once upon a time, Adele Fendi also took her daughters to visit the familiar sculptor Mirko Basaldella: “Our parents wanted us to breathe the atmosphere of the artist’s studio,” Carla Fendi recalled. “The first pieces of jewelry we were given were bronze earrings, bracelets and necklaces designed by Mirko Basaldella, which at the time looked quite eccentric.”
In her home at Palazzo Ruspoli, Carla has amassed an impressive collection of 20th-century European art, incorporating it into a contemporary designer interior. Several decades of European fine art converged in her collection - canvases by Henri Matisse are combined here with the works of Lucio Fontana, a classic still life of 1942 by Giorgio Morandi - with a conceptual work of 1968 by Enrico Castellani. Carla Fendi said about herself: “I am always guided by impulses - and in collecting as well. As soon as something unusual, be it painting, ceramics or glass, gets in my eyes, there is no escape - the object must be mine. In 2007, the designer founded the Carla Fendi Foundation, which sponsors concerts and music festivals, including the famous annual Festival of Two Worlds in Spoleto, which brings together musicians, ballet dancers, contemporary artists and opera singers.
The brand did not pass by another dream - cinema. Fendi collaborated with cinema almost more often than other brands. Without it, there would be no updated version of Luchino Visconti's "Family Portrait in the Interior". The film was restored thanks to the investments of the sisters. In this picture, Italian actress Silvana Mangano wears magnificent furs. And in The Devil Wears Prada, the heroine Meryl Streep wore not only Prada, but also Fendi. Remember her luxurious, wide-sleeved fur coat?

((Fashion show at the Trevi Fountain
In 2005, Fendi Fashion House celebrated its eightieth anniversary. In connection with the event, the Palazzo Fendi (Palace of Fendi) in Rome was opened. The new building combines studios, fur tailors and the world's largest Fendi store. October 19, 2007 the world saw a grand show from Fendi - the first fashion show on the Great Wall of China. 88 models participated in the show. The catwalk was one of the longest fashion shows in history - 88 meters (8 is considered a lucky number in China). And on February 29, 2008 in Paris, on the occasion of the opening of 22 Fendi stores at 22 Avenue Montaigne, a private concert of Amy Winehouse took place for an audience of 400 guests.
Carla supported the Fondo Ambiente Italiano, which is engaged in the restoration of decaying buildings of historical value. In 2013, it was Fendi who initiated the restoration of the Roman Trevi Fountain. By that time, one of the Roman attractions most beloved by tourists was already in a deplorable state: after the unusually cold winter of 2012, fragments of the baroque stucco of the fountain began to crumble. The most complex work within the Fendi for Fountains program lasted only 17 months. According to Claudio Parisi Presicce, head of Rome's cultural heritage protection department, such a project would not have been realized if it were not for the huge contribution of the fashion house, which spent about 400,000 euros to return to the city a magnificent monument created in 1762 by architect Nicolo Salvi sculptural compositions of the Bernini school. In November 2015, the Trevi Fountain was reopened.
And in July 2016, it was here that Fendi celebrated its 90th anniversary with a fashion show. The show was graced by famous models Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid and others, and the amazing outfits were inspired by the characters of the Dane Kai Nielsen, the famous fairy tale illustrator who studied in Paris. Karl Lagerfeld studied Nielsen's works for the works of Charles Perrault and the Norwegian fairy tale "East of the Sun, West of the Moon", his filigree style and careful study of every detail. Against the background of water cascades, models demonstrated dresses embroidered with sequins, lace and, of course, fur. The sophisticated fantasy decor - frosty patterns, miraculous plants, butterflies, fairies and enchanted princesses - contrasted with the epic panorama of the Roman monument. A podium made of transparent plexiglass was installed directly above the water surface.
Recently, 81-year-old Carla suffered a severe lung disease. After being discharged from the hospital, the fashion designer returned home - to the residence of the Palazzo Ruspoli, but did not live there for long. On June 20, she passed away.

Prepared by Lina Lisitsyna,
Based on materials from Italy4.me, Asn.in.ua, Znamenitosti.info, Wikipedia (ru.wikipedia.org)