BEAUTY: Clothing--Fendi

Fendi was one of two guest designers at this year's Pitti Imagine Uomo in Florence, Italy and creative director Silvia Venturini Fendi took the opportunity to show off a new, €50 million state-of-the-art Fendi leather goods factory located about a half hour outside of Florence. This impressive facility is designed with advanced energy efficiency and minimal landscape impact in mind. The main part of the building has a green roof full of flowers and herbs and beautifully disappears into the Tuscan terrain.

The show was actually set inside the factory floor and attendees were allowed access beforehand to wander around, observe how Fendi leather goods are made, and even interact with and ask questions of the artisans at work. Once it was time for the show, it was easy to see how the artisans themselves and their tools and workwear inspired this Spring Summer '24 collection. The aprons and smocks worn by these craftspeople translated into some interesting garments. Aprons and tool belts became skirts and halter tops, some long and flowing. Smocks became long shirts. While many designers have been working with the apron and workwear idea for many, many seasons now (Thom Browne, Junya Watanabe), this iteration feels slim, natural, and sophisticated. Some outerwear pieces were printed with patterns for Fendi products while a few pieces toward the end of the show were illustrated with actual tools of the trade and floral designs from the rooftop garden! In an eco vein, many garments were dyed from botanical pigments, while other pieces featured a softened F-logo jacquard in indigo and undyed denim. And shoes were shiny rubber clogs. For her bow, SIlvia Venturini Fendi came out with a gaggle of artisans from the factory floor. Do take a look at the fascinating video...the first three quarters are shots of the facility and guests arriving but if you want to scrub through to the show, it starts at 52:25.

https://www.fendi.com/