A Century in Style

FENDI’s Fall/Winter 2025-26 show marks a major milestone: the Maison’s 100th anniversary. To celebrate the centennial, Silvia Venturini Fendi transforms the catwalk into a walk down memory lane—a living story of a Roman atelier shaped by five generations of fashion visionaries.

“FENDI reminds me of the future,” says Silvia, a third-generation member of the Fendi family who became the brand’s artistic director in the early ’90s. “I didn’t want to spend too much time dwelling on the physical archives. For me, FENDI 100 is more about my personal memories—real or imagined—of what FENDI was, and what FENDI means today.”

Founded in Rome in 1925 by Edoardo and Adele Casagrande Fendi, the house began as a boutique for fine leather and fur. By the mid-20th century, the five Fendi sisters—Alda, Anna, Carla, Franca, and Paola—were propelling the brand into the global fashion spotlight. Their boutique on Via Borgognona became a glamorous destination, with its wood-panelled salons serving a stylish Roman elite.

That original spirit is revived in the new Spazio FENDI in Milan, reimagined as a modern mirage of the historic boutique. The show unfolds like a nostalgia-tinged slideshow: opening with Silvia’s twin grandsons, Dardo and Tazio, wearing replicas of a 1967 equestrian ensemble designed by Karl Lagerfeld—once worn by Silvia herself.

On the runway, both the women’s and men’s collections dig deep into the house’s DNA. Luxe shearling is treated with traditional fur techniques to mimic sable and mink, styled as stoles over lingerie dresses. Bracelet sleeves and stovepipe trousers highlight FENDI’s signature tailoring, while silhouettes strike a balance between softness and structure—seen in voluminous lambskin trench coats with plissé collars. Intarsia and patchwork lend geometric depth, offering sustainable textile alternatives to traditional luxury skins.

The colour palette draws from Rome’s ancient streets, bathed in the light of day: deep forest green and graphite alongside warm terra-cotta, cinnamon, dusty rose, and playful bubblegum pink. Intricate craftsmanship shines in every detail—from chantilly lace and duchesse satin to crystal embroidery and the masterful leatherwork of deerskin and suede.

Set to a rich cultural soundtrack featuring icons like Mina and Ornella Vanoni, the show resonates as a celebration not just of the past, but of the future. On its 100th birthday, FENDI’s Fall/Winter 2025-26 collection becomes a love letter to legacy—rooted in memory, alive in the present, and looking boldly ahead.