The Business of Fashion
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
Agenda-setting intelligence, analysis and advice for the global fashion community.
MILAN — Fendace? Versendi? Either way, Milan Fashion Week has a new hot ticket.
Versace, the Milanese fashion brand owned by Michael Kors parent Capri Holdings is getting ready to reveal a collaboration with Rome-based Fendi, according to people familiar with the matter who declined to be identified as the project is still under wraps.
Yesterday, Versace sent out a cryptic gold-and-white “save the date” — signed by creative director and former owner Donatella Versace — to a small group of fashion insiders inviting them to a Sunday event, although her runway show was still scheduled for its slot two days earlier, sparking whispers of a second, secret show.
Now, we know what’s behind the buzz: Donatella has been working with both of LVMH-owned Fendi’s creative directors, Silvia Venturini Fendi and Kim Jones, on a line set to be revealed at the Sunday event.
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Rumours have swirled for months about a collaboration between Donatella Versace, Kim Jones and Kim Kardashian West, fuelled by a July post to Kardashian West’s Instagram account showing the three together with the caption “LEGENDS!!!” But the mega-influencer’s connection to the collection to be unveiled on Sunday could not be confirmed.
Representatives for Versace and Fendi had no comment.
The move comes as Versace seeks to scale up its business following its sale for $2.1 billion to Capri in 2018, and as Fendi tries to ramp up attention on its new artistic director for womenswear, Kim Jones.
While collaborations more often entail big brands teaming up with smaller labels in order to rejuvenate their client bases and generate buzz, crossovers between two major companies also seem to be on the rise.
Gucci “hacked” fellow Kering stablemate Balenciaga this spring with Gucci designer Alessandro Michele raiding the Balenciaga archives for references and creating a new mash-up monogram. In return, Balenciaga designer Demna Gvasalia “hacked” Gucci. Last winter, Gucci also teamed up with outerwear giant The North Face.
Disclosure: LVMH is part of a group of investors who, together, hold a minority interest in The Business of Fashion. All investors have signed shareholder’s documentation guaranteeing BoF’s complete editorial independence.
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Robert Williams is Luxury Editor at the Business of Fashion. He is based in Paris and drives BoF’s coverage of the dynamic luxury fashion sector.
Vikram Alexei Kansara is Editorial Director at The Business of Fashion. He is based in London and oversees BoF’s luxury, fashion week, sustainability, global markets and opinion verticals.
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