ROME: Carla Fendi, one of the five Italian sisters who transformed their parents’ small leather workshop into an international luxury fashion powerhouse, has died at the age of 79, the family said on Tuesday.
Fendi, who died late on Monday and was the fourth of the sisters, was the public face of the company famous for its line of colorful “baguette” bags that cost thousands of dollars.
While other members of the family were the creative forces, Carla concentrated on promoting the company brand, whose logo of two F’s, one of them upside down and backwards, became an internationally recognized symbol for luxury.
The multinational LVMH luxury group gained a controlling stake in Fendi in 2001 in a deal worth hundreds of millions of dollars that brought together some of the world’s most famous luxury brands. LVMH significantly increased its stake later.
It was a far cry from the family’s humble origins nearly a century ago.
The sisters’ mother, Adele Casagrande, opened a small leather workshop in 1918 just off Rome’s bustling Piazza Venezia.
Adele Casagrande married Eduardo Fendi in 1925 and the two opened a small boutique next door and lived above the shop.
The five sisters were born between 1931 and 1940 and as children they played among the leather shreds on the shop floor and slept amid the handbags.
“Accessories were our first toys,” Carla Fendi once told Women’s Wear Daily.
The sisters moved to company to the chic neighborhood around Rome’s Spanish steps in the 1960s and in later expanded into ready-to-wear, shoes, perfume, household goods and children’s wear.
The company received a big boost from the creative collaboration of Karl Lagerfeld, who helped in the design of clothes, furs, and accessories.
Animal rights activists frequently protested against the company for its use of furs.
In her later years, Carla Fendi became a well-known patron of the arts. Deeply committed to Rome and its culture, her foundation financed the restoration of the city’s famous Trevi Fountain.
She was also a chief patron of the Two Worlds arts festival in the Umbrian city of Spoleto.
Carla Fendi, face of famous Italian luxury brand, dies aged 79
Carla Fendi, face of famous Italian luxury brand, dies aged 79
Imaan Hammam shines in bridesmaid mode
- Attends wedding of best friend and model Cindy Bruna
DUBAI: Supermodel Imaan Hammam recently attended the wedding of her best friend and fellow supermodel Cindy Bruna, who tied the knot with former basketball star and actor Blondy Baruti in an intimate ceremony in Paris.
Bruna, a French-Congolese model best known for her work with Victoria’s Secret and major fashion houses, married in a private celebration attended by close friends and family. She wore a custom gown by Lebanese designer Elie Saab.
Hammam was a part of the bridal party, serving as one of Bruna’s bridesmaids. The Dutch-Moroccan-Egyptian model wore a long, maroon-red gown with a sleeveless silhouette.
The dress was paired with matching elbow-length gloves in the same deep red shade, creating a coordinated and striking look that stood out but was in keeping with the formal event.
On Instagram she posted images with the caption: “Most special weekend celebrating my sis and Blondy. The most beautiful bride … truly. My heart is so full. We danced, we laughed, and we loved every moment.”
The floor-length gown featured clean lines and a streamlined cut, allowing the rich color to take centerstage. Hammam kept her styling minimal, letting the dress and gloves do most of the work.
Hammam and Bruna have been close friends for years, frequently appearing together at fashion events and on international runways.
Hammam is one of the most in-demand models in the industry. She was scouted in Amsterdam’s Centraal Station before making her catwalk debut in 2013 by walking in Jean Paul Gaultier’s couture show.
Hammam has appeared on the runway for Burberry, Fendi, Prada, Bottega Veneta, Marc Jacobs, Moschino, Balenciaga and Carolina Herrera. And starred in international campaigns, including for DKNY, Celine, Chanel, Versace, Givenchy, Giorgio Armani and Tiffany & Co.
Earlier this year, she launched Ayni, an archival platform dedicated to preserving and celebrating Arab artistic expression from her perspective.
“For me, it’s always been so much deeper than just fashion. It is about staying connected to my roots, telling stories that move me and shining a light on the voices that need to be heard.”
She said her hope for Ayni is for it to grow beyond a personal vision and become a “real community.”
