FENDI Brown Zucca Canvas & Calfskin Leather Vintage Tote
View Similar Items
FENDI Brown Zucca Canvas & Calfskin Leather Vintage Tote
About the Item
Fendi
Like other major European luxury fashion houses, Fendi started small. Adele Casagrande was an Italian creative who loved fashion and sold leather and fur accessories from a tiny workshop she opened in Rome in 1918. However, after marrying Edoardo Fendi in 1925, her business model was altered dramatically. Together, the couple changed the boutique’s name to Fendi and moved into a bigger storefront, which quickly became the favorite shop of women all over Italy’s capital city for furs and leathers, such as handbags, coats and accessories.
As time moved on for Adele and Edoardo, the couple began to distribute more responsibility to their five daughters, who assumed management of the company during the 1950s. Fendi’s audience broadened and its profitability has soared over the years, owing to the brand’s fresh perspective on fashion world happenings and innovative sensibility. The maison also has a distinctive relationship with old-world Italian craftsmanship. The Selleria bags were the work of master saddlers in Rome, and Fendi partnered with lace artisans in southern Italy as well as craftsmen in the east trained in the intrecciato (intertwined) technique (an idea that Adele introduced during the 1940s), which, in Fendi’s case, sees an interwoven leather fabric integrated in the creation of its handbags, countering leather’s traditional rigidity with a bag that is soft, versatile and fitted with an alluring slouchy curve.
It wasn’t until 1965, however, when a young German designer named Karl Lagerfeld took the creative helm that Fendi became a world-renowned fashion house. In fact, Lagerfeld, who produced four to five collections yearly for the brand, is credited with creating Fendi’s instantly recognizable double-F logo (which stands for “Fun Furs”) in “less than five seconds.” Until Lagerfeld started designing for the brand, fur was a material mostly associated with heavy coats that few people actually wore. Lagerfeld reimagined fur in creative ways, using it as an accent on purses, cuffs on dress sleeves and collars on wool coats.
Over the ensuing years, Fendi has broken into the home-goods market with Fendi Casa and has become synonymous with luxury fashion, producing such pieces as the iconic Baguette, which was rendered ever popular on the television series Sex and the City. In fact, an entire episode during the third season was dedicated to the “original It bag,” a slim accessory tapered in a manner that recalls its namesake, designed in 1997 by Adele and Edoardo’s granddaughter Silvia Venturini Fendi, who was named creative director of accessories three years earlier.
Perhaps just as well known as its vintage Baguette handbags and creative use of fur is the brand’s devotion to its Italian roots. In 2013, Fendi donated more than 2 million euros to restore Rome’s Trevi Fountain, and when it was reopened to visitors, Fendi hosted its Autumn/Winter 2017 show on top of the landmark.
Fendi was a family-controlled brand until 1999 and is now owned by LVMH. In late 2020, British fashion designer Kim Jones was named the house’s artistic director for womens wear.
Find a wide variety of vintage Fendi handbags and purses, clothing and other accessories on 1stDibs.
- Chanel Black Quilted Patent Leather Vintage Jumbo XL Classic Single Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireChanel Black Quilted Patent Leather Vintage Jumbo XL Classic Single Flap Bag Brand- Chanel Model- Jumbo XL Classic Single Flap Bag Product Type- Crossbody, Shoulder Serial Number- 4...Category
1990s French Tote Bags
- Louis Vuitton Brown Monogram Coated Canvas & Vachetta Leather Neverfull MMBy Louis VuittonLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireLouis Vuitton Brown Monogram Coated Canvas & Vachetta Leather Rose Ballerine Poppy Bay Neverfull MM Brand- Louis Vuitton Model- Bay Neverfull MM Product Type- Shoulder, Tote Serial ...Category
2010s Spanish Tote Bags
- GUCCI Black & Cream Diagonal Stitched Calfskin Leather Zumi ToteBy GucciLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireGUCCI Black & Cream Diagonal Stitched Calfskin Leather Zumi Tote Serial Number: 564714 520981 Age (Circa): 2021 Accompanied By: Care Booklet, Shoulder Strap Authenticity Details: Da...Category
2010s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Louis Vuitton Black Grained Calfskin Leather Lockme Shopper BagBy Louis VuittonLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireLouis Vuitton Black Grained Calfskin Leather Lockme Shopper Bag Brand- Louis Vuitton Model- Lockme Shopper Bag Product Type- Tote Serial Number- FL**** Age- Circa 2016 Accompanied B...Category
2010s French Tote Bags
- Louis Vuitton Indigo Epi Leather Alma PMBy Louis VuittonLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireLouis Vuitton Indigo Epi Leather Alma PM Brand- Louis Vuitton Model- Alma PM Product Type- Tote Serial Number- FL**** Age- Circa 2012 Accompanied By- Louis Vuitton Dust Bag, Care Bo...Category
2010s French Tote Bags
- Louis Vuitton Brown Monogram Coated Canvas & Vachetta Leather Speedy 35By Louis VuittonLocated in Bishop's Stortford, HertfordshireLouis Vuitton Brown Monogram Coated Canvas & Vachetta Leather Speedy 35 Brand- Louis Vuitton Model- Speedy 35 Product Type- Shopper, Tote Serial Number- SP**** Age- Circa 1996 Accom...Category
1990s French Tote Bags
- Hermes Birkin 35 Bois de rose matte alligator bagBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes Birkin 35 Bois de rose matte alligator bag. In great pre owned condition. Has some minor wear on hardware and corners. Dust bag, keys, Clochette and locker.Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Tote Bags
- Chanel 1991 Vintage Black Caviar Triple CC Gold Shoulder Shopping ToteBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 1991 Vintage Black Caviar Triple CC Gold Shoulder Shopping Tote Year: 1991 {33 Years Vintage} Gold hardware Classic interwoven chain strap Three CC gold logos on either si...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel Vintage Green Nylon Quilted Coco Cocoon Bowler Carry On Travel Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage Green Nylon Quilted Coco Cocoon Bowler Tote Bag Diamond quilted nylon in green Facing green leather-trimmed zipper pocket with a Chanel ...Category
2010s Italian Tote Bags
- Chanel Vintage 90's Tweed Beige Classic Reissue Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage Tweed Beige Classic Reissue Tote Bag W 10.63 inch, H 7.87 inch, D 3.15 inch Year 1994 Made in FranceCategory
1990s French Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 1996 Vintage Black Caviar Triple CC Stitched Shoulder Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel 1996 Vintage Black Caviar Triple CC Stitched Shoulder Tote Bag Year: 1996 Gold hardware This stunning classic shoulder bag circa 1996-1997 is crafted of luxurious caviar l...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 1999 Shopping Shoulder Vintage Small Classic Black Caviar Tote BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Caviar Vintage 1999 Small Classic Shoulder Bag 1999 {23 Years VINTAGE} Gold hardware Classic interwoven chain CC Turnlock logo at front ...Category
1990s Italian Tote Bags
Recently Viewed
View AllRead More
The Fendi Baguette Is an ‘It’ Bag Again, 25 Years After Its Introduction
Iconic Italian fashion houses Fendi and Versace teamed up on this delightfully outrageous Fendace reimagining.
14 Iconic Luxury Handbags and the Stories behind Them
When the name of a bag is as well-known as its brand, you know it's a classic.