Who started it?
Adele Casagrande opened a leather and fur shop in Rome in 1918. When she married Edoardo Fendi in 1925, she changed the name of the store as well as her own. In 1932, the couple opened a second shop. Paola, the couple's eldest daughter, began working for the firm in 1946, at the age of 15. She was later joined by sisters Carla, Anna, Franca and Alda.
In 1965, the sisters met rising German designer Karl Lagerfeld in Paris and invited him to join their business. Lagerfeld created the brand's signature inverted FF logo. To revamp the brand's image, he developed new designs and introduced new treatments for leather and fur, creating a fresh look. In 1966, he presented his first couture fur collection for the label, bringing it to the attention of international buyers.
In 1969, Lagerfeld designed the first ready-to-wear fur collection, with a price range that made the label more accessible. Together with the Fendi sisters, he also created the first line of soft, unstructured handbags.
Lagerfeld presented the first ready-to-wear clothing collection in 1977. By 1984, the range also included accessories such as ties, gloves, sunglasses, and home furnishings.
The next year, Fendi was recognised by the National Gallery of Modern Art in Rome with an exhibition celebrating the firm's 60th anniversary and Lagerfeld's 20th year at the brand. The occasion also marked the launch of Fendi's first namesake fragrance.