Vintage FENDI black leather shoulder bag, large clutch purse with embossed art,
View Similar Items
Vintage FENDI black leather shoulder bag, large clutch purse with embossed art,
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.
- Fendi By The Way Mini Embellished Leather Cross-body BagBy FendiLocated in Krakow, PLFendi calfskin satchel with silvertone hardware. Crystal "tail" zip closure extends down one side. Tote handles with studs; 2" drop. Detachable shoulder strap; Hanging covered ke...Category
2010s Shoulder Bags
- Rare Carlos Falchi Multi-Skins Multi-Color Large Shoulder Bag & ClutchBy Carlos FalchiLocated in New York, NYThis wonderfully rare Carlos Falchi large shoulder bag with the option to wear use as a clutch is combined with multi-skins of snakeskin, lizard skin and pylon skins as well ...Category
1980s American Shoulder Bags
$885 Sale Price46% Off - Stephane Kelian Metallic-Gold BagBy Stephane KélianLocated in New York, NYStephane Kelian metallic-gold lambskin bag can be worn as a shoulder bag, or, after removing the straps, can be worn as a clutch. Bag measures at 6...Category
1980s French Shoulder Bags
- Charles Jourdan gray silk with metallic silver shoulder bagBy Charles JourdanLocated in New York, NYCharles Jourdan gray silk with metallic leather in steel gray silver has the option of tucking the straps inside and making it into a clutch for evening...Category
1980s Clutches
- Chanel Classic Flap Clutch Vintage 80's Gold Cc Closure Black Crocodile Skin BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage 1989 Crocodile Flap Bag Clutch Gold CC Closure The vintage Chanel octagon black crocodile 8 sided flap with classic cc closure and atta...Category
1980s Italian Structured Shoulder Bags
- Chanel 2002 Vintage So Black Long Medium Shoulder Convertible Clutch Flap BagBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLChanel Vintage So Black Long Medium Shoulder Bag Year 2002 {Vintage 22 Years} Black nylon canvas with a flap top CC turn-lock closure Leather entwined chain shoulder strap Black metal hardware Carry it as a clutch or shoulder bag Interior has a black fine textile...Category
Early 2000s Italian Structured Shoulder 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.