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Fendi is an Italian luxury house whose history is rooted in Roman leatherworking and fur craftsmanship. Founded by Adele and Edoardo Fendi in Rome in 1925, the business began as a workshop and boutique specialising in handbags and furs. Its reputation for fine materials and technical skill quickly attracted an international clientele.

After Edoardo’s death in 1954, the couple’s five daughters — Paola, Anna, Franca, Carla and Alda — took the lead. Working across the business, they expanded its ambitions and brought a more contemporary approach to its collections. In 1965, they appointed the young German designer Karl Lagerfeld, beginning a collaboration that lasted 54 years. Lagerfeld reimagined the house’s approach to fur, experimenting with colour, texture and construction to make it lighter and more versatile. He also created the iconic interlocking FF motif in 1966, initially conceived as a mark of the house’s fur heritage, which became one of fashion’s most recognisable emblems.

Fendi’s influence extended beyond its original specialisms to include ready-to-wear, shoes, accessories and fragrances. In 1997, Silvia Venturini Fendi, granddaughter of the founders, designed the Baguette. Carried under the arm, the compact shoulder bag became a defining accessory of the late 1990s and early 2000s, gaining wider recognition after its appearance in the television series Sex and the City. The Baguette remains highly sought-after at auction, with a floral-embellished Baguette formerly owned by Elizabeth Taylor sold for US$21,590 at Christie’s New York in 2026.

In 2008, Silvia Venturini Fendi introduced the Peekaboo, a structured handbag defined by its clean lines, distinctive turn-lock closure and subtly divided interior. Its name refers to the playful reveal of the contrasting lining, visible through the bag’s slightly open front. Balancing understated elegance with a distinctive construction, it became another of Fendi’s signature designs. The style has since been reinterpreted in different sizes, leathers and finishes. A red crocodile Peekaboo with gold hardware sold for HK$125,000 at Christie’s Hong Kong in 2016.

Fendi joined the LVMH group in 2000, which became its majority shareholder in 2001. Today, the house remains recognised for its Roman heritage, innovative use of materials and distinctive leather craftsmanship.