Fendi walks on water

Fendi sealed its profound and long-lasting bond with Rome by choosing its hometown to celebrate the Maison’s 90th anniversary around the city’s iconic landmarks.

The event started last Thursday in the late afternoon with a private cocktail at the San Luca Academy inside Palazzo Carpegna, an historical Roman Palazzo hosting an artists’ association founded in 1593, just a few steps away from the Trevi Fountain, where it launched –

 as a worldwide preview – the “Fendi Roma” book. The book, conceived to celebrate 90 years of the Maison, its history, identity and the profound links with the city of Rome, was presented in an exclusive set up inside the exhibition area where its photographic images were displayed as in an art gallery.

The celebration continued at the glorious Fontana di Trevi, for a never seen before fashion show with the Legends and Fairytales Haute Fourrure Collection, designed by Karl Lagerfeld, once more an example of the unique craftsmanship, daring creativity and expression of the excellence of the Roman brand. The Trevi fountain’s water and play of lights fused with the catwalk rhythm giving life to an iconic Roman atmosphere. International top models Kendall Jenner and Bella Hadid walked down the transparent catwalk placed on water during sunset looking for all the world like floating fairies.

The fashion show was followed by a breath-taking dinner at Terrazza del Pincio in Villa Borghese, which hosts one of the most amazing landscape views of Rome. The guests walked through a corridor immersed in Karl Lagerfeld’s sketches since 1965 in a special artwork called Gust of Wind conceived by the internationally renowned designer Paul Cocksedge Studio. An unexpected and circular “Fendi fountain” was constructed to embrace the dinner venue, underlining once again the profound and historic bond between Fendi and the Roman fountains.

The dinner was followed by a special performance by singer Giorgio Moroder, an award-winning singer who has collaborated with such icons as Barbara Streisand, Freddy Mercury, Donna Summer and Daft Punk. 

The following day, guests were invited to the preview of the exhibition “Fendi Rome”– The Artisans of Dreams” on the Palazzo della Civilta Italiana’s first floor and enjoyed a brunch on the Palazzo’s terrace. The exhibition, which opened to the public last weekend, has been conceived to celebrate the Maison’s unique craftsmanship and creativity, founding and distinctive elements of the luxury Roman House core values.

Fendi is continuing its birthday celebration with the launch of the Peekaboo 90 Years, designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi, a one-of-a-kind bag entirely made by hand in only 60 pieces. Using the most ancient techniques of the Roman master saddlers, the Peekaboo 90 Years, is available exclusively in the Palazzo Fendi boutique in Rome. Special windows have been developed exclusively for the boutique t where special paper craft techniques are used to illustrate the story of the Maison, where suitcases become the cover of a giant books and paper miniatures, examples of fine craftsmanship, represent the five Fendi sisters, Karl Lagerfeld and Silvia Venturini Fendi.

Among the celebrities attending the event Bernard Arnault with his son Alexandre, actresses Kate Hudson and Gong Li and singer Bella Thorne.