The FENDI 2024 spring and summer men’s wear series is inspired by the FENDI Factory leather goods factory hidden among the green hills and mountains of Tuscany, Italy. The exclusive series of accessories in this series, designed in collaboration with Japanese architect Kengo Kuma, will be launched in March. Ancient Japanese craftsmanship and original natural materials have been newly transformed into three classic items, including the FENDI Peekaboo, the FENDI Baguette Soft Trunk bag, and the FENDI Flow sneakers. “I have always considered Kengo Kuma to be a master of naturalistic architecture. He was one of the first designers to recognize the importance of integrating nature into the interior and exterior of buildings.” Silvia Venturini Fendi, artistic director of accessories and menswear at FENDI, explained.
FENDI When I was asked to think about how to transform their bags and shoes, I thought of it as a small architectural project on a human scale.” Starting from handmade papermaking techniques, he used Waranshi and Waranshi made from a mixture of cotton and bark fibers. Paper is used as a material. This kind of Japanese paper is dry and soft and is traditionally used for origami, making lanterns and even kimonos. Washi creates a solid structure while also giving these accessories a mottled appearance, echoing Kuma’s philosophy of integrating man-made objects into nature.
A Peekaboo bag is woven from light-colored birch bark, subtly paying homage to the FENDI Pequin stripes, and the frame inside the bag is carved from Tuscan olive wood. Another Waranshi Peekaboo bag, the frame inside the bag uses traditional Japanese bamboo weaving technology “YATARA AMI” (YATARA AMI), using irregular weaving techniques of thin bamboo strips to create a strong woven grid, which further inspired the FENDI Flow sneakers 3D The design inspiration of the printed sole is used, and the upper is made of recycled polyester fiber cotton knitted fabric or Japanese paper. FENDI Flow sneakers also feature a redesigned upper with laces and zippers, a cork insole, and a sole made of undyed biomaterial EVA with molded FF lettering.
