Unique and Rare Fendi Cross Body Clutch, 1990s
View Similar Items
Unique and Rare Fendi Cross Body Clutch, 1990s
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 share 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.
- Special Bottega Veneta Metallic Weaved Leather and Snakeskin Fold Over ClutchBy Bottega VenetaLocated in Port Hope, ONThis a spectacular Bottega Veneta Leather Metallic Weave Fold Over Clutch with snakeskin braided strap and trim. The colors are gold and brown and hanging from the strap is a golden ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Clutches
- 2018 Fendi Turn-Lock Two-Tone Pebbled Calfskin Selleria Wallet as New ConditionBy FendiLocated in Port Hope, ONThis Fendi Continental wallet is in as new condition and has two distinct parts. The front has a polished silver turn lock which opens up to ...Category
2010s Italian Wallets
$434 Sale Price30% Off - 1980s Yves Saint Laurent Cotton Trench 44FrLocated in Port Hope, ONThis is a classic Yves Saint Laurent 1980s cotton trench coat. The color is a luminescent green; it is double breasted; has side slit pockets; leather cu...Category
1980s French Trench Coats
$463 Sale Price49% Off - Patricia Underwood Large Straw FedoraBy Patricia UnderwoodLocated in Port Hope, ONThis is one of British Milliner Patricia Underwood's Iconic hats. Straw with an undulating brim and a gros grain blue and black band. Perfect hat for both protection and style.Category
21st Century and Contemporary British Hats
$396 Sale Price20% Off - Dries Van Noten Long Light Brown Cotton Top (S)By Dries van NotenLocated in Port Hope, ONMade in Belgium this is a very nice quality cotton top with spaghetti straps and ribbed hem. Please note that there is stretch to the material.Category
21st Century and Contemporary Belgian Shirts
$90 Sale Price28% Off - Gucci All Silk Jacket, 2000sLocated in Port Hope, ONBeautifully tailored jacket designed by either Tom Ford or Alessandra Facchinetti. This all silk jacket/blazer has oiping throughout two inside...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Italian Blazers
$248 Sale Price20% Off
- Beige & White Faux Pearl Woven Crossbody BagLocated in Carlsbad, CADESCRIPTION Tweed and faux leather Single handle Non Removable woven faux leather chain crossbody strap Interior pocket Measurements: Length: 9in Width: 4in Height: 6in Strap dro...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Pink Love Woven Crossbody BagLocated in Carlsbad, CADESCRIPTION Beaded letters on exterior Dual zipper closure Single top handle Removable woven faux leather chain strap Double compartment interior Interior zippered pocket Measureme...Category
21st Century and Contemporary American Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Judith Leiber Tan Karung Snake Handbag with Stone Buckle Front.By Judith LeiberLocated in West Palm Beach, FLJudith Leiber Tan Karung Snake Handbag Clutch with Stone Buckle Front. A beautiful piece by the talented Judith Leiber, this karung snake clutch/handbag ...Category
21st Century and Contemporary Hungarian Clutches
- Very Rare Minaudiere Chanel Moscow Lion Head ClutchBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLFrom 2009 3.5”H x 5”W x 2.5”D Strap Drop 24” Made in Italy Handmade in quilted bronze lambskin leather, with delicate gold filigree design. Accented with pearls, mother of pearl and swarovski crystals throughout. The Lion heads are in honor of Coco Chanel’s zodiac...Category
Early 2000s Clutches
- Chanel 2016 Limited Edition Quilted Lambskin Lucky Charm Casino Crossbody ClutchBy ChanelLocated in Miami, FLLambskin Chanel quilted soft leather with magnetic closure and interior double compartments. 2016 Black leather Antique gold hardware Interior zipper pocket 5 charms Interwoven cha...Category
2010s Italian Crossbody Bags and Messenger Bags
- Hermes Cinhetic To Go Wallet Mauve S Bag Clutch Crossbody Chamkila Mysore ChevreBy HermèsLocated in Miami, FLMightychic offers a guaranteed authentic Hermes Cinhetic To Go Wallet clutch / shoulder/ crossbody bag. Exquisite Mauve Sylvestre in coveted Chamkila My...Category
2010s French Crossbody Bags and Messenger 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.