For Autumn/Winter 2024-25, FENDI reinvents some of its classic designs and presents several reimagined handbags
By The Time Place Magazine
As the world around us evolves at a faster pace, fashion seeks something simpler yet unique—practical to wear yet imbued with a sense of individuality. This philosophy echoes throughout FENDI’s Autumn/Winter 2024-25 collection, designed by the brand’s illustrious artistic director of Couture and Womenswear, Kim Jones.
However, Jones also drew inspiration from another source. As he explored the luxurious fashion house’s archives from the 1980s, he was reminded of London during that period—the Blitz Kids, the New Romantics, and the mix of workwear with aristocratic and Japanese influences. This amalgamation of global cultures and subcultures, intertwined with British elegance and subversion, inspired Jones to blend this nonchalant attitude with FENDI’s own Roman style. The Maison, known for its unique and luxurious yet pragmatic designs, provided the perfect canvas for Jones to merge these influences into a collection that is as daring as it is refined.
The collection starts with precise tailoring, where feminine lines embrace the austerity of rounded silhouettes in rich, compact wools. Layered wool coats are casually belted, reminiscent of robes, while knitwear spans from sleek silk ribs to traditional British-inspired designs like Aran and Guernsey. Utilitarian dresses blend practicality with elegance, featuring tough attitudes softened by tulle and organza, adorned with Roman statuary prints, or embroidered with playful dots. This fusion of textures and shapes captures the collection’s balance of functionality and refined style.
Meanwhile, shearlings and leathers take centre stage, showcasing FENDI’s artisanal expertise while challenging traditional norms. High-shine waxed finishes, the unique Agugliato needle-punched technique, and intricate intarsia work create innovative textures. These new fabrications offer the wearer supple protection, a satisfying tactile experience, and essential comfort, embodying both luxury and craftsmanship.
With FENDI’s upcoming 100th anniversary in 2025, the brand’s iconic Selleria motif appears in both garments and leather goods. Initially inspired by Roman master saddlers, the Selleria motif is reimagined this season, most strikingly in the leather riding boots that take centre stage. Playful elements like the Chupa Chups® lollipop holder—bearing a logo designed by Salvador Dalí and now wrapped in the FF motif—add a touch of whimsy. Delfina Delettrez Fendi, the Artistic Director of Jewellery, further extends this connection with metal thread hardware stitched into bold leather bangles, and the theme resonates in oversized leather and metal chains, blending tradition with modernity.
Revived Elements
For Autumn/Winter 2024-25, FENDI also introduces new versions of its luxurious and beloved handbags.
Simply FENDI, a soft shoulder hobo bag with strong FENDI DNA and a unique personality, has become one of the season’s most coveted models. Its name reflects the streamlined design, inspired by an archival shape from the late ’90s. It is crafted from soft, sleek Corvara calf leather where the bag features a glossy finish achieved through a traditional, vegetable-based tanning process.
Embracing the refined collection, Simply FENDI is available in three versatile sizes: Large, Medium, and a striking Mini. The range also features FENDI’s craftsmanship and heritage in iconic FF jacquard and sculpted shearling. The collection’s rich colour palette includes classic black and dark honey, with vibrant seasonal blues, adding to the elegance of this practical style.
Elsewhere, FENDI presents a more demure version of its Peekaboo Soft Bag, crafted from Odalisque—a sumptuous high-quality calf leather achieved through mineral tanning. This leather features an inherently soft and silky texture, enhancing its natural and sensual allure. The construction is also softened, with hard edges smoothed while retaining the iconic trapezoid architectural design of the bag. Available in Medium and Large sizes, it balances its classic silhouette with a more supple, refined finish.
The new version also comes in a sophisticated palette of timeless, earthy tones—from warm browns and greens to a striking vibrant blue. In a testament to the Maison’s unparalleled luxury and expertise, exotic versions of the Peekaboo Soft in mink fur, smooth Croco Nabuk, and shiny super-soft Croco Kashmir, elevate the bag to ultimate refinement and exclusivity. Say hello to your new favourite handbag of the year.
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FENDI FENDI Autumn/Winter 2024-25 the time place magazine
