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The wait has been building since cryptic gold and white invitations were sent out last week, signed “Donatella” and inviting guests to “something special.” Rumors quickly spread that Versace was collaborating with Fendi on a secret show.
Yesterday evening, the two Italian powers unveiled their joint collections during a star-studded parade that upset the conventions of traditional fashion. Fendace, as it has been nicknamed, was not a collaboration, the designers were quick to point out, but rather “a coming together”.
The creative directors of the two houses swapped roles, with Donatella Versace sharing her take on Fendi, and Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi voicing their take on Versace.
“Both a celebration of Italian fashion and an overwhelming upheaval of the established order of things, Fendace is fashion with a capital F – and a capital V. Together, they represent freedom, pleasure and virtuosity”, the creators announced in a press release.
Inspired by Versace’s creative production of the mid to late 90s, Versace by Fendi was an exploration of duality and featured a fusion of the Fendi Monogram and Versace Greek Key designs. The clothing was fluid and transformative, in many cases reversible or exhibiting hidden features. It was above all a celebration of the exceptional craftsmanship of the Fendi workshop.
Fendi by Versace, meanwhile, took a more punk rock stance, with Versace safety pins punching out the Fendi patterns and symbols. Chainmail was mixed with lace and crystal encrusted F’s, while silk faille mimicked denim.
“This is a first in the history of fashion: two designers who maintain a real creative dialogue, made of respect and friendship. This led us to switch roles to create these two collections, ”said Donatella.
“Friends, idols, mentors… that’s the beauty of togetherness,” added Jones, artistic director of Fendi Couture and Women’s Clothing.
Famous names from all generations appeared on the catwalk, including Adut Akech, Naomi Campbell, Gigi Hadid, Imaan Hammam, Stella Maxwell, Kate Moss, Lila Moss, Emily Ratajkowski, Anja Rubik, Irina Shayk and Amber Valletta.
It was a powerful manifestation of solidarity and a positive marker of how things could be done in a post-pandemic fashion world – a world of collaboration, cross-pollination and unification. The precedent has already been set: last year designer Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada announced they would be equal partners at Prada, while in April Gucci presented a fashion show referencing rival brand Balenciaga .
Updated: September 27, 2021, 08:11 AM
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