House Histories: The Fendi Timeline

The Italian house has recently entered a new post-Lagerfeld creative era – but its roots go back further farther than Kaiser Karl. Here's everything you need to know about the Fendi fashion house…

1925

The Fendi house is founded by Adele and Edoardo Fendi in Rome.

1926

The first Fendi handbag boutique and fur workshop opens on via del Plebiscito and is an immediate hit with elite Roman society.

1946

Edoardo Fendi dies leaving the business to Adele and their five daughters: Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda.

1965

A young Karl Lagerfeld joins Fendi as creative director and leans in to the house's history as a sought after atelier of fur goods, using animal skins across the Fendi range. During his tenure he would also create the famous Double F motif which, according to LVMH, stands for ‘Fun Furs’.

Another of Lagerfeld’s important contributions was his relaxed attitude towards the implementation of fur. He encouraged the use of what were traditionally considered poor quality furs, reinterpreting them into covetable, affordable products, while introducing colour to expensive skins to increase their appeal with a younger audience.

1977

Fendi launches its first ready-to-wear collection, overseen by Karl Lagerfeld, with shoes following a year later.

1978

Adele Fendi dies and each of the five daughters takes over a piece of the business, with Lagerfeld maintaining the creative helm.

1992

Silvia Venturini Fendi, a third generation member of the Fendi family, joins the house as Karl Lagerfeld’s second in command.

Naomi Campbell in the Fendi AW92 campaign

1980s

The 1980s is a hugely lucrative decade for Fendi, the third-generation of Fendi women (Silvia, Maria Teresa, Federica and Maria Ilaria) begin to work at the business and it gains global popularity. It also designs uniforms for the Rome police department and launches fragrances for men.

1985

Fendi opens its first US store, on New York’s Fifth Avenue, to mark its 60th anniversary.

1994

Silvia Venturini Fendi is promoted to head of accessories and menswear design.

1997

One of Silvia Venturini Fendi’s greatest hits, the Fendi Baguette, debuts. A celebrity favourite and one of the early ‘It’ bags, it is still one of the brand's best sellers.

1999

LVMH and Prada acquire 51% of Fendi in a joint deal. While Bernard Arnault and Patrizio Bertelli are officially in charge, management of the brand remains with the third-generation Fendi sisters.

Gigi Hadid in the Fendi SS17 campaign

2002

Prada sells its stake in Fendi to LVMH for $265 million. LVMH also acquires an additional 15.9% from the Fendi family. Carla Fendi remains as chairwoman and minority owner.

2007

Fendi makes history by staging the only fashion show viewable from space on the Great Wall of China. The show featured 88 models and 88 metres of catwalk in reference to the luck the number is thought to possess in Chinese culture.

2013

Fendi makes major donations towards the restoration of the Trevi Fountain, a project which will take 17 months, and the clean-up of the Quattro Fontane.

2015

Lagerfeld celebrates his 50th anniversary at Fendi by holding a controversial Haute Fourrure show dedicated to the house’s history with fur, which included a million-dollar fur coat. The same year the brand moves its headquarters to the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana and celebrates its 90th anniversary with a show held on a plexiglass runway above the Trevi Fountain.

2019

Karl Lagerfeld and his legacy is commemorated during the Fendi Fall Haute Couture show with 54 looks, one for each of his years at Fendi, created. Fendi pledges €2.5 million to restore the Temple of Venus and Roma in Rome.

2020

Kim Jones, also creative director of Dior Men, is appointed Artistic Director of Haute Couture, Ready-To-Wear and Fur Collections for women, finally replacing the late Karl Lagerfeld.

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