Versace and Fendi Collaboration – “The Swap” or “Fendace” – Kim Jones and Donatella Versace switch roles”. Review by Eleonora de Gray, Editor-in-Chief of RUNWAY MAGAZINE.
I have to say this is quiet fascinating. It’s almost never two big fashion luxury brands unite for one show, for one creation, mixing their monograms. Fendi and Versace only 2 days ago announced to the media that Donatella Versace was working with Silvia Venturini Fendi and creative director of Fendi and Dior menswear Kim Jones on a collection.
That could be a beginning of the new tradition, or new way of the brands to protect themselves against counterfeit. The inter-industry team-ups between major luxury brands could be a great solution.
I can only guess that this brilliant idea to beat up the new wave of coming counterfeit so carelessly launched by Francois-Henri Pinault, CEO of Luxury Group Kering (brands Gucci, Balenciaga, Saint Laurent) came from Donatella Versace. In 2017 Francois-Henri Pinault had an idea to “relaunch”, invest, legalize a Harlem tailor Dapper Dan, who in 90s mixed and matched brands and their monograms like Luis Vuitton and Gucci, who was chased by FBI, and finally caught. Read more about who is Dapper Dan, the “King of Counterfeit” and Francois-Henri Pinault HERE. The idea of mixing and matching monograms of luxury brands came out, the energy made its tour, and came to the interest of the big public. Read more about how and why Dapper Dan received lifetime achievement award by American Fashion Federation (CFDA) for his work in counterfeit back in 90s HERE. There’s a time for the luxury brands to have a solution to that. Donatella Versace before anyone else got one!
So Donatella Versace didn’t let local little designers to amuse and rip of her monograms and take massive financial advantage of her and Fendi brands. Or was it Newyorker Michael Kors who came especially for this event to Milan? Anyway they decided to create! By this collection she made her statement. You want to have mixed monograms, mixed styles? Go and get it from the united brands! Here it is the fabulous collection! There’s no tailor from Harlem who is able to do it better and more creative!
Can you imagine Fendi monogram in toxic pink and green? Well… do! “The Swap” or “Fendace” presented Kim Jones’s vision for Versace, and Donatella Versace’s interpretation of Fendi. Absolutely great, fabulous and ultimate luxury pieces shown on the runway tonight.
Versace Fendi show – The Swap – Fendace – by RUNWAY MAGAZINE
