As we might have accustomed to the idea of watching live stream shows during the lockdown, 2022 fashion weeks mark the return of live shows. The presence of live runways always entails a sense of eagerness and anticipation that heightens the audiences’ curiosity, as the music gets louder and the stage lights brighten up…

One of the highlights and possibly most notable events from this year’s season was the runway show from Fendi x Versace special project, or Fendace. 

While high-profile brands have joined forces in the past, namely the Balenciaga and Gucci ‘hackings’, this was different. This was not a collaboration, rather it was a friendly design-off between the two fashion houses, where Donatella Versace and Kim Jones took on a role of a curator and designed 25 looks for their ‘rivals’. In a sense, it was a swap that stemmed from pure appreciation and respect for each other’s aesthetics and heritage.

Having a full access to the archives, Kim Jones was fascinated by the Gianni’s 90’s looks while the technique of Fendi, such as shearling, inspired Donatella Versace. The result was a collection of mind-blowing pieces that celebrated the concept of duality between these brands’ codes. The looks were youthful, fun, modern yet nostalgic as they embraced the iconic details from the archives of both brands. Through the designers’ contemporary reinterpretations, we were enlightened with a combination of all-black ensembles highlighted by Versace’s iconic safety pins, the Fendi FF monogram, use of prints, and the signature Versace attitude as the models walked down the runway. The show reached a climax when the Medusa backdrop was turned after the first 25 looks, revealing the Fendi FF logo as the model wearing Fendi by Versace appeared. If that it was not enough to make us be on the edge of our seats, the return of Kate Moss and Naomi Campbell brought us back to the 90’s reign because after all  “Gianni created the supermodel”. 

“The idea is to mix the codes, the FF and the Medusa or the Versace… We took it like a game, more than a real job and that allowed us to be free to express ourselves” said Donatella. 

It is fair to say that this was the first time in the history of fashion where we saw the designers from different fashion houses trust each other and then created the vision that they had for one another.

I hope that this was the first Fendace collection but not the last meeting between the two great creative minds. 

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