Fendi

Fendi is an Italian luxury fashion house founded in Rome in 1925 by Edoardo Fendi and Adele Casagrande. Initially, it began as a small boutique specialising in fur and leather goods, quickly gaining a reputation for high-quality craftsmanship and innovative designs.

The brand is especially renowned for its luxurious furs, leather goods, and iconic accessories such as the Baguette bag.

Short history of Fendi

After its founding in 1925, Fendi became renowned for transforming fur from a purely functional material into a symbol of elegance and luxury, largely due to the pioneering vision of Adele Fendi and her family.

A turning point came in 1965 when Karl Lagerfeld began his collaboration with Fendi, revolutionising its fur collections and creating the iconic double “F” logo. Lagerfeld’s creative direction lasted over five decades, shaping Fendi’s identity as a symbol of elegance, craftsmanship, and innovation.

Since 2001, Fendi has been part of the French luxury conglomerate LVMH, which has helped expand its global presence while maintaining its Roman heritage.

Its headquarters are located in the historic Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana in Rome, a symbolic location that reflects the brand’s blend of tradition and modernity.

What is Fendi all about?

Fendi’s legacy is deeply rooted in Italian artisanal tradition, with a strong emphasis on craftsmanship and innovation. A key element of Fendi’s identity is the famous double “FF” logo, designed by Karl Lagerfeld in 1965, which stands for “Fun Furs” and symbolises the brand’s playful yet elegant approach to fur fashion.

The brand has been led and influenced by several generations of the Fendi family, notably the five Fendi sisters, and has collaborated with legendary designers like Karl Lagerfeld, who worked with Fendi for 54 years, and more recently Kim Jones and Delfina Delettrez Fendi in various artistic director roles.

Beyond fashion, Fendi commits to making a positive impact on the wider community through collaborations with artists, architects, and philanthropic initiatives, promoting creativity and cultural enrichment.

The brand also emphasises sustainability and social responsibility, integrating these values into its production processes, supply chain, and community engagement.

What do they have to offer?

Fendi’s product range is extensive and centred primarily on luxury leather goods, which make up about 40.9% of its assortment. Fendi is famous for its Selleria line of handmade leather bags inspired by Roman saddlery, and the legendary Baguette bag, designed by Silvia Venturini Fendi in 1997, which became a fashion icon.

The brand also offers a broad selection of fashion accessories such as scarves and hats, contributing to one of the broadest price ranges in the luxury market.

Ready-to-wear clothing for women, men, and children is available, featuring streamlined shapes and finely crafted details.

Their footwear includes boots, trainers, and high heels, and accessories such as belts, backpacks, and jewellery.

There are collections of sunglasses and optical frames, currently produced under a partnership with LVMH-owned Thelios.

Luxury home furnishings and designer furniture are in the Fendi Casa section, developed in collaboration with top designers and reflecting creativity and material quality.

They also have a high-end collection of seven scents unveiled in 2024.

What is the user experience like?

The design of the Fendi website reflects the brand’s luxury and high-fashion identity with a clean, elegant, and user-friendly layout focused on showcasing its products with sophistication.

The site uses large, high-quality images of items like bags, shoes, and accessories, often with options to swipe through different views or colour variants, enhancing the shopping experience with detailed visuals.

The site emphasises Fendi’s craftsmanship and creativity, often highlighting designer collaborations and the heritage behind collections, reinforcing the brand’s prestige.

The design adapts well across devices, maintaining a sleek and modern aesthetic consistent with luxury e-commerce standards.

Fendi is active on several major social networks where it shares content related to creativity, craftsmanship, fashion collections, and events.

They also use social media communication as part of their customer engagement and marketing strategies, including personalised offers and updates.

What are the prices like?

Fendi pricing varies widely depending on the model, size, material, and region. Mini Baguette Bags range approximately from $2,150 to $3,750 in the USA, depending on fabric and embellishments such as sequins or embroidery.

The iconic Medium Baguette Bag costs around $3,600 in the US and €3,800 in France and Italy, with prices varying by local market conditions.

Larger or more exclusive models like the Peekaboo ISeeU Medium start at about $6,200, with exotic leather editions costing more.

Other popular bags like the Fendi Sunshine Medium Blue Leather Shopper are priced around $3,100, while the Origami Large Dark Brown Sheepskin Bag costs about $4,400.

Accessories such as Fendi sunglasses and sandals are priced around $950.

What are their shipping options?

Fendi offers free shipping on all online orders within the US, with delivery typically taking 3-5 business days from the date of purchase.

The company also offers international shipping with free delivery on all online orders, including pre-orders and in-stock items. The shipping time generally ranges from 1-3 business days for express delivery on immediately available items and 2-7 business days for standard delivery for other items, depending on the destination and stock location.

To shop internationally, customers select their country or region at the bottom of the Fendi website, which adjusts the catalogue, shipping, and payment options accordingly.

Customers receive a tracking number by email once their order is dispatched, which can be used to track their package online.

Conclusion

Fendi is known for its elegant ready-to-wear collections, leather goods, fur creations, shoes, fragrances, eyewear, timepieces, and jewellery, combining Italian craftsmanship with contemporary design to remain a leading name in luxury fashion worldwide.

The site combines high-end fashion presentation with practical e-commerce functionality, creating a seamless and elegant online shopping environment that mirrors the Maison’s luxury image.

Fendi offers luxurious, stylish, and versatile products with excellent craftsmanship, but buyers should be aware of the high cost, potential durability concerns, and mixed experiences with customer service.

If considering a purchase, checking product condition carefully (especially in the pre-owned market) and being prepared for possible service challenges is advisable.