Fendi marks a century with an extravagant catwalk spectacle at their latest Milan headquarters
Fendi's A/W 2025 Collection: A Nod to the Past and a Leap Towards the Future
Italian fashion designer Silvia Venturini Fendi, a third-generation member of the renowned Fendi family, recently unveiled the A/W 2025 collection at Fendi's newly renovated headquarters in Milan. The show was a significant event for Silvia, as it represented five generations of Fendi family members.
The collection was a harmonious blend of Fendi's historical codes and modern aesthetics. 'Fur' coats made from shearling using techniques of intarsia, honeycomb, and gheronato patchworks graced the runway, reflecting Silvia's personal memories of Fendi's past and present.
The cast for the A/W 2025 show included fashion icons such as Penelope Tree, Liya Kebede, Doutzen Kroes, Eva Herzigova, and Karen Elson. The runway show took place in a renovated space, double the size of the previous one, adding to the grandeur of the event.
Silvia presented Fendi's A/W 2025 collections for both men and women, designing the latter for the first time since 2020. The show concluded with Silvia taking a rapturous final bow, before the space was cleared for a party filled with pasta and champagne.
The A/W 2025 collection for women was particularly noteworthy, as it marked Silvia's first design since her appointment in 2020. Her designs conjured a vision of Cinecitta glamour with a sensuality instilled with a Roman rigour.
The Fendi family business has remained a family affair for over 100 years, with each generation of women playing a part in its growth. The first brick-and-mortar store of Fendi was opened on Via del Plebiscito in Rome by Edoardo and Adele Fendi in 1925. Anna Fendi, daughter of Adele, spoke about her time running Fendi with her four sisters.
Silvia's grandsons were involved in opening the doors for the A/W 2025 Fendi show, symbolizing a look towards the future. The show was followed by a tribute to Kim Jones' final collection for Fendi, which paid homage to the maternal lineage and presented airy looks that fused Fendi's ochre-hued codes with the dropped-waist glamour of the 1920s.
Notable attendees included Sarah Jessica Parker, whose character Carrie Bradshaw popularized the Fendi Baguette bag. Parker showed delight at the A/W 2025 collection, adding to the overall excitement of the event.
With Silvia Venturini Fendi expressing hesitance towards nostalgia and expressing interest in the future of Fendi, which is currently undefined since Kim Jones' departure, the A/W 2025 collection serves as a promising step towards the brand's next chapter.
The A/W 2025 collection, showcased by Silvia Venturini Fendi, blended aspects of pop-culture, as evidenced by the presence of celebrities like Sarah Jessica Parker, and payed homage to Fendi's historical roots, offering a glimpse into the interface of fashion-and-beauty and entertainment industries. Furthermore, Silvia's designs for women in the A/W 2025 collection exemplified the lifestyle of Cinecitta glamour, merging past aesthetic codes with modern sensibilities, signifying her dedication to shaping the brand's future.