FENDI SEARCHES FOR NEW CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Summary:

• Silvia Venturini Fendi leaves her creative director position on October 1 to become honorary president
• The designer worked alongside Karl Lagerfeld from 1992 to 2019 on accessories and menswear lines
• Fendi plans to announce a new creative structure but has not specified when

Fendi announced yesterday that Silvia Venturini Fendi will step down from her creative director role effective October 1. The Roman house enters its centenary year without creative leadership as the designer transitions to the position of honorary president.

Venturini Fendi joined Fendi in 1992. She worked with Karl Lagerfeld on accessories and menswear collections for 27 years until his death in 2019. Kim Jones then joined as artistic director of womenswear and haute couture. After Jones departed, Venturini Fendi took over all collections.

In a statement, Venturini Fendi acknowledged her family's legacy. She referenced her grandmother Adele, her mother Anna, and her aunts. She credited Lagerfeld as a mentor who taught her collaboration while helping her develop her own creative vision.

The designer will continue to represent the brand globally. She will focus on promoting Fendi's history and craftsmanship but will no longer work from the design studio. The company stated it will announce a new creative structure at a later date.

Ramon Ros, Fendi's president and CEO, said Venturini Fendi shaped the brand's creative direction and contributed to its international success. He noted her work bridged the house's Roman artisanal roots with contemporary design.

The departure comes as Fendi marks 100 years since its founding. The brand faces a transition period as it searches for new creative leadership while preserving its heritage.