What happens when two Italian luxury fashion houses join forces?
A brilliant, historical collection, of course.
Enter Fendace— the love child of Fendi and Versace.
A first in fashion history, the iconic designer brands came together and its designers swapped roles to bring to the world something truly innovative. Rather than just a collaboration, Fendi and Versace exchanged roles and brand codes with designers Kim Jones and Silvia Venturini Fendi bringing their sharp eyes to Versace and Donatella Versace recasting Fendi through her legendary vision.
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“It’s a swap rather than a collaboration and, most of all, it is done out of friendship,” Jones explained. “It is the beauty of togetherness after time apart and a celebration of women who have inspired me so much.”
Designed by Jones and Venturini Fendi, the Versace by Fendi collection first debuted at Milan fashion week and is now finally making its way to the fashion houses’ devotees. It will be available in Fendi boutiques and online, in addition to special pop-ups in SoHo New York and Los Angeles from May 12 to June 19. Pop-ups will also be open in other major cities around the world for a limited time, including Dubai, Kuwait, London, Osaka, Paris, Shenyang and Tokyo.
What’s more, the special nature of the Fendace collection warrants a just as unparalleled campaign. Presented across two campaign videos, photographer Steven Meisel captured supermodels Adut Akech, Amar Ak way, Anja Rubik, Anok Yai, Imaan Hammam, and Lina Zhang on a fabulous night out. Dressed in bold Fendace ensembles, the only thing standing in the group's way are two fearsome bounces: Naomi Campbell and Kristen McMenamy.
“The campaign captures the same sense of friendship and energy we had when we were designing the collection,” Donatella Versace said. “Kim is a visionary designer and innovator. To me, Fendace will always mean love.”
The Fendace campaign comes from creative directors Ronnie Cooke Newhouse and Karl Bolander, film director Alex Maxwell and casting director Piergiorgio Del Moro with hair styling by Guido Palau and makeup by Dame Pat McGrath.
Fendace launches May 12.
