"What particularly interests me about Fendi is its pursuit of not only femininity but also practical functionality. The 'Fendi woman' is a strong woman who leads a busy and fulfilling life."

- Kim Jones


FENDI, the luxury brand based in Rome, Italy, unveiled its Spring/Summer 2023 women's collection by Artistic Director Kim Jones on September 21, 2022, at 2:00 PM (local time). The collection further expands on the codes established by Kim Jones at Fendi, incorporating the house's history while evolving its unique expression for a contemporary era. Through Kim Jones's unique and innovative perspective, the past becomes the future. The starting point for his contemporary collection is Karl Lagerfeld's work from 1996 to 2002. "It's all about continuity," says Kim Jones. "I'm interested in looking back at Karl's legacy and exploring how I can develop it both visually and technically," he continues. Floral prints from the Fendi archives and a logo first used in 2000 serve as key pieces of past collections, reimagined for the modern era.


Clothes cycle gently at the turn of the millennium, clashing minimalist ease with pop eclecticism. Lightweight layers of high-tech organza and nylon jersey embellished with lacquered embroidery add a new dimension of interest, creating looks that are sporty yet delicate, effortlessly sophisticated. Meanwhile, dangling straps and elongated racerback silhouettes exude ease. Belt details, also featured in Fendi's Fall/Winter 2022 Couture collection, are incorporated into tailoring to elevate shapes and add a feminine touch.


Bold colours are added to a harmonious palette of neutrals, with vibrant pinks, cornflower blues and vivid greens making bold inroads. Organic textures – cashmere and fur, shearling and leather – are realised with Fendi's unparalleled savoir-faire, now lighter than ever before, and layered with high-tech fabrics. Lustrous satin is hybridised with mesh, while chunky tennis shoes and rubber platforms elevate the foot. Paying homage to the Maison's signature combination of form and function, the inverted "F" of FENDI First appears as an optical illusion across the footwear.


"At Fendi, I'm always thinking about practicality, but also about luxury. Adding heavy hardware to something very soft gives it true practicality and makes it unique," concludes Kim Jones.

In jewellery, "hardness and softness work together," emphasises Delfina Delettrez Fendi, Artistic Director of Jewellery. "The logo almost disappears into the functional structures that suspend the stones," she says.


This same spirit shines through in the accessories. The Peekaboo, sliced in half to reveal its inner workings, was one of the season's key accessories, while a steel "F" pierces the bag's body, transforming it into a handle. The Maison's iconic bags are also crafted in the spirit of "dualism," part of the Maison's DNA that permeates the collection. High-shine leather sits alongside clean canvas, and bold hues are printed against natural tones. They can be worn on a chain or paired as a clutch, carried in one hand. "At Fendi, everything comes from a conversation around the FF logo, so we see everything as a couple," reflects Accessories Artistic Director Silvia Venturini Fendi. "Even bags, big and small, become part of the family," she concludes.



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