Italian Fashion Watch

Over the years, we’ve seen many fashion designers get involved in various humanitarian projects meant to help those in need. The first that comes to mind is the Product(RED) campaign supported among others by Giorgio Armani and Converse. If you look at my previous post on this blog (which was a long long time ago, sorry about that ), you’ll also see that Gucci is helping UNICEF offer help to kids in Africa.

Well, recently I got a tip that Fendi’s Carmina Campus division is also joining the humanitarian efforts. But instead of simply offering funds, they’ve taken a more sustainable approach by partnering with the International Trade Center and developing a project called “A tour through dumpsites” which will be implemented in Italy and Africa (mainly Kenya), with the goal of finding ways to recover and reuse materials found in the dump sites.

The fist part of the project was making the whole issue known to the world, by shooting a film in the slums of Nairobi where almost two million people live in difficult conditions without electricity or sewage. For many of them, the only way of survival is to sort and recycle the waste found in the local dump sites.

ITC, which is trying to help these people by supporting the development of local businesses, has approached Carmina Campus because of its experience with the reusing unlikely materials and creating luxury items, basically out of waste. The Carbag line is made out of old car parts, such as seatbelts, seat covers or sun visors, just to get an idea

As part of this project, in the next period, Fendi will visit the region in question to see for the possibilities available and whether the recycling methods they developed can be applied there. If all this goes well, it will have a second side benefit of preserving the local traditions of manual manufacturing and including them in a global line of fashion accessories. Be on the look for the next line of Carmina Campus handbags. It’s going to be interesting.

Shoes are contemporary jewelry, designer Donatella Versace once said, and in recent years they have become an integral part of a designer’s fashion statement.

Dolce&Gabbana Sandals

Armani one season ennobled the running shoe by pairing it with chiffon evening wear. In the 1990s the stiletto became a symbol for racy chic. More recently, prewar platforms and wedges thought to have been relegated to the back of grandma’s closet became super hot again, especially with teenagers.

The heels have become taller with each season, and the inches are apparently taking their toll. Models at last month’s preview shows in Milan tripped, slipped and — in the case of one model wearing ankle-strapped high-heels at Prada — toppled over.

On the fourth day of Milan Fashion Week, there were shoe troubles for both Pucci and Dolce & Gabbana. The sensible footwear from Fendi, however, kept those models firm on the ground.

DOLCE & GABBANA

They might have chosen slippers to go with their pajama party, but the Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana duo accessorized their luxurious silk outfits with sparkling and soaring platform sandals. The super-high platforms were also used for their dreamy ball gowns in tulle and embroidered roses. Dolce defended the towering look, saying that every girl has the right to dream.

But if several of the trained models stumbled on the slippery runway during the show, how can one expect a debutante to negotiate the ballroom floor?

Fendi Shoes

FENDI

The Fendi show featured models wearing wild pinned-up hairstyles and futuristic lace dresses cinched at the waist by a cummerbund. The look may have been offbeat, but the overall effect was still the elegant and easygoing look preferred by Italian designers for the summer 2009.

The footwear at Fendi was strangely calm, though, especially for the house that made metal ankle straps a fashion fetish. The high heels were never towering, and favored was an open-toed saddle shoe fitted with a comfortable wedge.

Combining an innovative line with classic and modern styles, Fendi’s new shades recently hit Solaris stores across the UAE. The new collection blends classic and innovative designs with luxurious and ultra- stylish shapes.

Designed in vibrant colours varying from metallic beige, brick, gun-metal, anthracite, brown, carbon, horn and onyx, the Italian icon embodies sophistication and modernism in its new collection.

Colours provide harmony with shapes that range from rectangles to wraps. With the Fendi logo incorporated at the temples, the frames are extended to set off the face’s dimensions for a bold new look. Focusing on safety and comfort, the new eyewear provides exceptional comfort with 100 per cent UV protection.

‘Fendi is an icon in the world of fashion and it is known for delivering high quality sunglasses that are super-chic and beautiful. It’s a mix of class and exuberance. These shades are a must-have for this season,’ said Katia Andrejev, Brand Manager, Solaris Middle East.

Friday night saw the fashion pack flocked to see Amy Winehouse (pictured above on her way to Paris) perform at one of the hottest events on the Paris schedule – the Fendi party.

Press, buyers and fans alike were desperately trying, and failing, left right and centre to get their hands on a coveted ticket. It should come as no surprise, however, that the enterprising Elle team had no trouble getting their way in to rub shoulders with the A-listers, so we can exclusively bring you all the gossip:

‘Fendi had turned a huge space at the back of their store into a red-lined club with a stage. Amy came on at 11.15pm and played for 45mins. The party was absolutely mad to get into and super packed – only about 250 people actually got in to see her, though there were more in the venue.

We followed the Olsen’s and their entourage through the kitchens…! Rihanna was dancing and singing along, Kanye West was there, as well as Bernard Arnault, Salma Hayek’s fiancée who owns PPR, and Karl Lagerfeld (sunglasses on, obviously)… Amy was wearing a D&G dress with a Fendi belt and looked so much better than of late, though she did say she had mumps???!

She did highlights from Back To Black and was talking a bit; she asked if fashion week was still on and if it actually lasted for a week…! Amazing…’

Ilaria Venturini Fendi, sporting a necklace that jangles with a row of her old house keys, is camped out in a dim corner of the L’Eclaireur restaurant in Paris.

Resembling a jolly market vendor, 40-year-old Fendi — the younger sister of Sylvia, who heads up leather goods for the namesake Roman fashion house — sits surrounded by the latest offerings from her high-end eco-conscious bag line, Carmina Campus. Now into its fourth season, the collection will be presented for the first time during Milan Fashion Week.

Like a magpie’s nest, the collection’s vibrant bags, produced by artisans around Italy, are constructed using a patchwork of salvaged materials that Fendi picks up trawling markets and bargain basements around Florence and Rome. Kooky cushion covers collide with swatches of deck chair fabric on one model, while one tote started life as an oversize knitted African hat. Elsewhere, pushing the boundaries of utilitarian chic, Fendi transformed silver mesh pot-scrubbing pads into a twinkling evening purse.

Leveraging her industry contacts (the designer used to oversee shoes and the Fendissimo line for Fendi), many scraps are also donated by various mills, she said.

The line, ranging in price from $300 to around $2,000 at retail, is distributed in an exclusive crop of stores, including L’Eclaireur, 10 Corso Como and Dover Street Market.

Fendi reopened its luxurious flagship boutique at Ngee Ann City in Singapore last month. The elegant 156sq m store was designed by Peter Marino, who worked on all the brand’s flagship stores around the world.  

You will spot the boutique immediately from the recognisable Fendi logo forming a lighted-up glass design on the walls; shoes and bags are placed within this design to peek out coyly.  

Inside, richly textured walls of Roman Travertino, a travertine marble from Italy, stand over dark grey flooring of lava stone – the same that paves the streets of fashionable Rome. Using Italian material is Marino’s way of giving customers all over the world an Italian experience inside a Fendi boutique. 

The boutique carries Fendi’s ready-to-wear, fur, leather goods, shoes and sunglasses. 

There is a wide range of handbags, from the luxurious, hand-stitched Selleria, the celebrated Spy, the B Fendi, the Fendi Forever range, the Magic Bag, Bag De Jour and Chef. 

Two other sections in the boutique are separately dedicated to the label’s shoe collection and ready-to-wear. 

And there’s a final touch of luxury: The changing rooms are extravagantly laid with fine pony hair carpet to pamper your feet!

CEO of Fendi Michael Burke last night confirmed Fendi’s plans for a 100 look fashion show on the Great Wall of China.

The show, which is due to take place at the end of October has been given the go ahead by the People’s Republic of China.

Burke, speaking from the Dior couture show in Paris, explains “What’s even better is that now we can accommodate several live feeds,” rather than just CNN.

The original show was supposed to take place on 24th May but was postponed which worked out for the best, “A sandstorm hit Beijing on the day we had planned for the show,” Burke recalled.

LOL, I was just looking around the fashion blogs, when what do I see? An interesting poll on whether this new Fendi Crossword Grande Mirrored Bag looks geeky or not…

I think it looks great (or an I just a geek? ), but make sure you cast your vote to have a better idea on what the truth is.

The first hint that we were about to experience something really special was the wonderful scent of pine that wafted through the fall 2007 show space of Fendi, Thursday afternoon in Milan. Then we saw a spectacular, modernist and cerebreal lineup of great clothes.

All that time Karl Lagerfeld’s been spending viewing contemporary art paid dividends with a genuinely eye-popping set of a wooden backdrop, seating bleachers and catwalk all in freshly cut pine that recalled a cool art gallery booth in London at Frieze or in Miami at Art Basel. It also immediately injected a savvy “on est au courant” air to a molto traditional label like Fendi.

Featuring the best casting we’ve seen in Milan – Natascha Poly, Valentina, Lara Stone, Suvi to name a few – the collection was a testament to the way that fur still drives designers to new sartorial heights. From remarkable harlequin sleeved and cuffed white mink jackets to zig zag patterned fox redingotes, this was a gutsy yet sophisticated display.

It was a wonderful interpretation of how to use volume in a way that is novel, flattering and, above all, never improbable. The opening featured some great micro minis with curvy trim, before moving to subtly ballooned looks sure to flatter less than ideal figures.

Find the rest of the article here.

Gucci and Fendi are planning exclusive branded outlets in India and are now in talks with major retailers like Pantaloon, Lifestyle, Shoppers’ Stop, the Runwal Group and Big Bazaar for the same. Gucci, at present, has a presence here but only in a multi-branded outlet format, making its products just one among the many displayed in malls. Exclusive branded outlets in malls would mean that these brands will get exclusive space to the tune of 2,500 to 5,000 sq ft. Fendi, on the other hand, is making an entry into the booming Indian retail segment for the first time.

Shubhranshu Pani, president – retail services, TrammellCrow Megharaj said, “Murjhani brothers, the partners of The Gucci Group would be setting up Gucci outlets in India. Apart from eyeing malls for setting up outlets, Gucci group and Fendi are also in talks with top hoteliers of the country to set up Gucci branded exclusive outlets within premium hotels in high street locations.” It was in January 2006 that Gucci had identified the Murjani brothers as their partners to enter the Indian market, and then followed with an agreement with them.

Pranay Vakil, chairman, Knight Frank India said, “The demand for international premium luxury brands such as Gucci has taken off well in markets such as Mumbai, Bangalore and Delhi. But it will take at least six months to a year to decide how these brands take off nationally as more malls are likely to come up in Tier II cities, as well. When branded outlets are developed, consumers look for variety value.”

According to industry experts, a branded company today willingly pays 12% of the gross income by way of rent. In areas such as Linking Road, Mumbai, branded companies pay Rs 500 to Rs 600 per sq ft as rent as they are able to justify the value realisation that exceeds the rent payable at 12% of the gross income. The only exception to this are the international branded companies who have outlets just to promote the brand.