"Eternal Rome, Sublime Rome, Heavenly Rome" - Kim Jones

Traversing the various eras of Rome, from ancient antiquity to an imagined future, Kim Jones brings fantasy and reality to an ethereal present in his FENDI Spring/Summer 2022 Couture collection.

Here, the city's historical codes, its exquisite marble and church aesthetic, are explored within a futuristic framework. "When you walk the streets of Rome, you are constantly traveling through time," says Kim Jones. "While our workplace feels very modern, we pass many historic buildings on the way there. This city is utterly timeless, transcending time. It is laced with traces of history, yet at the same time driven towards the future."


Women descend from the heavens, their heavenly purity imbued with divine power. Their sci-fi silhouettes are crafted with luxurious craftsmanship. Ritual asceticism is layered with astrological fantasy. Fluid fabrics drape over shimmering bodies, baguette beads sparkle in the light, and hand-embroidered tights fit like a second skin. These otherworldly figures are imbued with transcendent energy. "Rome as a city has a strong spirituality, not necessarily religious, but rooted in a rich history," Kim Jones continues.


The collection, combining modern craftsmanship with traditional techniques, reflects the spirit of Rome and finds harmony between past and present. Photographed motifs embellished with traditional beadwork and mother-of-pearl are distorted, creating a hazy shadow that illuminates luxurious duchess silk and organza print dresses. Within the iconic arches of the Palazzo della Civiltà Italiana, Fendi's headquarters, classical statues are executed in dramatic chiaroscuro on sheared mink and velvet. Leather embroidered with tiny sequins, mink and pearls echoes Roman Corinthian reliefs. The underpinnings are deliberately exposed to reveal the very fabric of couture. Volcanic stones and hematite inlaid into bags, and natural crystal geodes and amethysts in jewelry, evoke the city where archaeological remains of ancient civilizations were unearthed.


The visual statement is powerful, from jackets crafted from Persian lamb and leather that resemble the armour of an ancient warrior, to floor-skimming hems that echo the regal dignity of an emperor. "This is my vision for Fendi: celebrating the power of women," concludes Kim Jones.



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