Change is in the Roman air. After more than three decades shaping the identity of one of fashion’s most storied houses, Silvia Venturini Fendi is stepping down as creative director of Fendi, assuming the newly created role of honorary president. The move closes a defining chapter not only for the maison, but for one of fashion’s most enduring dynasties.
Venturini Fendi, who joined the family business in 1994 to helm menswear and accessories, became instrumental in modernizing the brand while preserving its Roman roots. She took the reins of womenswear and couture in 2024, following Kim Jones’s departure, guiding the house through its centenary year with quiet confidence and refined vision. Before Jones, she spent decades working alongside the late Karl Lagerfeld, absorbing and evolving the codes that made Fendi synonymous with craftsmanship, luxury, and lightness of touch.
“These have been truly exciting years — a journey I have walked in the name of my grandmother Adele, my mother Anna, and her sisters,” she reflected in a statement. “My heart turns to Karl, an extraordinary master who granted me the honour of working by his side, teaching me the art of sharing while guiding me to nurture my own creative vision so that I could then fly on my own.”
In her new position, Venturini Fendi will focus on preserving the house’s heritage, acting as an ambassador for Fendi’s craftsmanship and its lifestyle arm, Fendi Casa. The transition comes as CEO Ramon Ros, appointed earlier this year, prepares to navigate the brand’s next creative era.
“Since 1992, Silvia has been pivotal to Fendi’s evolution from a Roman artisanal brand to a global symbol of innovation and luxury,” Ros said. “Her influence will continue to shape the maison’s legacy for generations to come.”
With Venturini Fendi stepping aside, anticipation builds for who will next take the creative helm. The house has confirmed that a new creative structure will be announced “in due course” — but for now, the industry pauses to celebrate the woman who carried a century of Fendi into the future.
