Fendi Black Leather Crocodile Print Shoulder Bag 1970s Vintage
About the Item
- Designer:
- Brand:
- Dimensions:Height: 7.88 in (20 cm)Width: 8.67 in (22 cm)Depth: 1.97 in (5 cm)
- Place of Origin:
- Period:
- Material Notes:100% crocodile leather.
- Condition:Excellent vintage condition.
- Seller Location:Brindisi, IT
- Reference Number:1stDibs: LU1354321177052
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.
- ShippingRetrieving quote...Ships From: Brindisi, Italy
- Return PolicyA return for this item may be initiated within 3 days of delivery.
- Prada Brown Ostrich Leather Vintage Plain Bag 1990sBy PradaLocated in Brindisi, BtPrada vintage 90s ostrich leather bag. Plain shoulder bag, brown color. Zip closure, equipped with a silver-colored padlock with relative key. Inte...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Pancaldi Brown Wool Leather Shoulder Tote BagBy PancaldiLocated in Brindisi, BtPancaldi vintage shoulder bag. Brown color with beige handles, leather and felt. Zipper closure, inside pocket. 1990s. Made in Italy. New without label. Width: 42 cm Height: 30 cm D...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Gucci Brown Suede Leather Monogram Vintage Bag 70sBy GucciLocated in Brindisi, BtGucci vintage 70s handbag. Brown trunk bag, in suede, monogram print, leather finishes and golden metal details. Rounded leather handles, beige s...Category
1970s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Moschino Black Leather Vintage Flower BagBy MoschinoLocated in Brindisi, BtMoschino vintage 90s shoulder bag. Black color, patent leather flowers and silver-colored studs. Adjustable shoulder strap, interior with poc...Category
1990s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Gianni Versace Beige Leather Vintage Bucket Bag 1990sBy Gianni VersaceLocated in Brindisi, BtGianni Versace vintage 90s beige bucket bag. Rigid shoulder bag in crocodile-print leather, medusa logo on the shoulder straps. Clip closure, internal pocket, lined with monogram pri...Category
1990s Italian Bucket Bags and Drawstring Bags
- Krizia Silver Leather Evening Shoulder Bag 1980sBy KriziaLocated in Brindisi, BtKrizia vintage 80's shoulder bag. Small model with shoulder strap in leather color silver. Closure with jewel button, internal dividers. Made in Italy. Excellent vintage condition. ...Category
1980s Italian Hobo Bags
- Chanel Large Black Caviar City BagBy ChanelLocated in West Hollywood, CAThis Chanel City bag is an absolute classic. The handles have a drop of 6 inches so you can also easily wear it over the shoulder. The original hologra...Category
Early 2000s Italian Shoulder Bags
- Christian Dior Large Lady Black Patent Leather Canvas Hand BagBy Christian DiorLocated in Freehold, NJPre-Owned 100% Authentic CHRISTIAN DIOR Patent Canvas Large Lady Black Shoulder Hand Bag RATING: B...Very Good, well maintained, shows minor signs of wear MATERIAL: patent leather, c...Category
2010s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Hermes Kelly 25 Colormatic Blue Black Chai Gold Palladium Hardware NEW LIMITEDBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLBrand New 2022 Purchase Ultra Rare and Hardest to get Hermes Kelly 25 Colormatic Blue ( Caban) Chai, Black, Gold and Etoupe Leather Complimented by...Category
2010s French Structured Shoulder Bags
- Sirni purple crocodile handbag - shoulder bagLocated in Capri, ITSirni purple crocodile handbag totally made in italy lining in leather measurements: 28*15 cm, 7 cm depthCategory
1990s Italian Top Handle Bags
- Prada black croco leather handbag shoulder bagBy PradaLocated in Capri, ITPrada black croco leather handbag totally made in italy measurements: 23*13 cm, 9 cm depthCategory
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Top Handle Bags
- Hermes Brown Clemence Leather Retourne 32cm Kelly Bag GHWBy HermèsLocated in New York, NYHermes 32cm Brown Clemence Leather Retourne Kelly Bag GHW Made in: France Year of Production: 2003 Materials: Clemence Leather Hardware: Goldtone Exterior Pockets: N/A Interior Pock...Category
21st Century and Contemporary French Top Handle 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.